Weight Limit Of School Bags To Go Under Scanner From Today

Khurda: Taking due note of the recent directive of the Orissa High Court, the Khurda District Collector has formed special squads to monitor the implementation of Ministry of Human Resource Development’s (MHRD) guidelines on reduction of weight of school bags.

The administration has formed three district-level squads to monitor the implementation of the guidelines in all the government, government-aided and private schools in Khurda district including capital city Bhubaneswar.

A notification in this regard was issued by the District Education Officer (DEO) to all Block Education Officers (BEOs), President of Bhubaneswar Abhibhabaka Mahasangha, all the principals and headmasters of the schools in Khurda on Tuesday.

As per sources, the squads will conduct surprise visits to schools to inspect the compliance of the MHRD's cap on weight of school bags. In case any deviations are found, the squads will report the matter to the DEO for necessary action.

“The Odisha School and Mass Education department had earlier issued notice to all district authorities regarding the implementation of the guidelines in various schools of the State. As per the orders by the Orissa High Court, the Khurda DEO has once again been intimated by the Collector to enforce the new rules,” said School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Das.

Apart from the weight of school bags, use of books prescribed by NCERT/SCERT will also be under the scanner of the authorities.

As per the MHRD guidelines issued last year, the maximum weight of the school bag for the students of Classes I and II should not exceed 1.5 kg while the weight of the bags of students from Classes III to V should not be more than three kg.

Similarly, the school bag weight of Classes VI and VII should not be more than four kg, for Classes VIII and IX should be 4.5 kg and for Class X, it should not exceed five kg.