As per the report, there are 4,130 schools in Mumbai. School bags of 2,710 students were checked, and it was found that 89.85% students were carrying lighter bags.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that majority of schools in the state were complying with its directive and undertaking steps to reduce weight of school bags.
Government pleader Poornima Kantharia submitted a report from different areas of the state, which stated that over 2,000 government officers carried out random checks in over 17,000 schools and found that several steps, as suggested by the government, were being adopted by schools to reduce the weight of schools bags.
As per the report, there are 4,130 schools in Mumbai. School bags of 2,710 students were checked, and it was found that 89.85% students were carrying lighter bags.
After perusing the report, a division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Amjad Sayed said, "There has been substantial progress and implementation of the resolution is an ongoing process." The court then directed the government to file a compliance report on the schools' progress and posted the matter for further hearing on October 10.
Social activist Swati Patil had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in this regard. Appearing for Patil, advocate Nitesh Nevashe argued that the government resolution was not properly implemented. He had also sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which he is yet to receive.
The court, however, told him to avoid filing an RTI application as the government was submitting its progress report to the court and to him. As per recommendations mentioned in the resolution, schools have been directed to take various steps such as using tablets, one textbook for allied subjects, providing lockers, allowing children to keep books in schools, and so on.
The resolution was issued after a government-appointed committee had noted that the school bags were so heavy that 60% of students below the age of 10 were suffering from orthopaedic and stress-induced ailments.
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