Mumbai: Children carry very heavy school bags in comparison to their age and over 58 per cent of students below 10 years of age are suffering from orthopaedic ailments, said a Maharashtra-government-appointed committee report submitted to the Bombay High Court today.
A division bench of Justices VM Kanade and BP Colabawala was informed that the 12-page report has been accepted by the government and a decision will be soon taken on implementation of its recommendations.
After perusing the report, the court said "soon children will have to carry trolley bags as the backpacks they carry at present is not enough."
Justice Colabawala, whose children go to school, said "everyday all the subjects are taken. Hence, a student has to carry all the textbooks and its notebook. There has to be a change in the time table."
The court has asked the government to file its reply by July 23 and also wanted to know by when it is likely to implement the suggestions made by the committee in its report.
The court suggested the government consider directing schools to set up lockers where children can keep their textbooks instead of carrying it daily.
Justice Kanade, however, immediately observed that then children would not be able to study at home.
"So much homework is given that students need the books at home also. If students start keeping their books in schools, then parents will have to buy two sets - one for home and one for school," the court said.
The committee has recommended that one book should be used for three months for each subject and the textbook weight can be reduced by using less weight paper and no hardcover.
Further, it also suggested use of e-classroom, audio- visual technology and other technological means for teaching.
The bench, after going through the report, said "we find the suggestions are quiet reasonable but for this year we assume that it would not be possible to implement them."
The government had appointed the committee following a public interest litigation filed by activist Swati Patil on the issue.
A division bench of Justices VM Kanade and BP Colabawala was informed that the 12-page report has been accepted by the government and a decision will be soon taken on implementation of its recommendations.
After perusing the report, the court said "soon children will have to carry trolley bags as the backpacks they carry at present is not enough."
The court has asked the government to file its reply by July 23 and also wanted to know by when it is likely to implement the suggestions made by the committee in its report.
Advertisement
Justice Kanade, however, immediately observed that then children would not be able to study at home.
Advertisement
The committee has recommended that one book should be used for three months for each subject and the textbook weight can be reduced by using less weight paper and no hardcover.
Advertisement
The bench, after going through the report, said "we find the suggestions are quiet reasonable but for this year we assume that it would not be possible to implement them."
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Preventive Detention Orders Should Be Passed With Extreme Care: High Court Will Give Land For Bombay High Court Building: Maharashtra To Supreme Court If Parole Can Be Granted To Share Grief, Why Not For Happy Occasion: High Court Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Opposes Karnataka's Job Quota Bill, Minister Responds On Camera, Jagan Reddy's Party Member Hacked To Death On Busy Andhra Road QS Executive MBA Rankings 2024: IIM Bangalore Tops Among Indian Institutes US Cop Who Laughed After Indian Student Jaahnavi Kandula's Death Fired Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.