Karnataka High Court has recently pointed out that the issue of having to carry heavy school bags by students is an important one. The petitioner claimed that the Central government’s ‘School Bag Policy Of India 2020’ was not being implemented in Karnataka. The High Court of Karnataka ordered the issue of notice to the state, seeking effective implementation of the policy notified by the Union government essentially sought to reduce the weight of school bags for students from grade I to XII. The policy sets out a weight limit for students’ school bags.
According to the petitioner, he has seen students carrying overloaded bags to school every day in Tumakuru and Bengaluru, a route he regularly takes to commute. The policy was prepared after the Madras High Court in 2018 had directed the Center to frame a policy to reduce the weight of school bags and guidelines to implement it.
As per the policy, the weight of the school bags should be 1.6-2.2 kg for students of grade I and II, 1.7-2.5 kg for grades III to V, 2-3 kg for grades VI and VII, 2.5-4.5 kg for grade IX and X, and 3.5-5 kg for grade XI and XII.