Steps taken to ensure school bags are less heavy, says Maharashtra government

The state government on Tuesday filed an affidavit in the Bombay high court, stating that a concept of study without burden has been included in the state curriculum to ensure that children don't carry heavy bags to schools.The affidavit filed by deputy secretary Avinash Sable of the school education and sports department said several subjects have been reorganised — for Stds I and II students, environmental studies has been included in language and maths subjects, ie a single textbook has been made for the three subjects while treating them separate, and for Stds III to V science, civil science and geography have been included in environment studies and history has been incorporated in environmental studies-II.The affidavit said due to the changes the number of subjects has been reduced and because of that number of books and notebooks too will go down. Before this change, there was no alternative except typed material.Developing computer application skill in students also has been included in the curriculum/syllabus with the aim that garnering information from online sources will reduce students' dependence on textbooks.A committee under the chairmanship of director (primary) has been constituted to further suggest remedies for reducing weight of school bags.The affidavit was filed while replying to a PIL by Chembur-based social worker Swati Patil. In her petition, she has relied on certificate issued by a doctor from KEM hospital, saying children may suffer from backaches, spondylosis, neck pain, and other orthopaedic problems if they continue to carry heavy bags regularly to school.Patil said in 2006 the education department had issued a few rules, which included schools providing lockers to let students keep books/bags, allowing the use of a common notebook for related subjects, like history and civics, and providing water coolers in each classroom. However, these rules were not implemented as the department told schools to implement them if possible.The petition added that strict initiatives and follow-ups should be done by the government all over Maharashtra and those (schools) that are not following the said rule shall be made liable under civil and criminal laws.The PIL will now be heard on May 5.