Appeal in HC for lighter schoolbags

Updated on: Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Chennai: A writ has been filed in High Court, to permit children to carry school bags weighing only 10 per cent of their body weight.

A division bench comprising justices R Banumathi and N Paul Vasanthakumar have ordered notice to school education secretary and other authorities.

In her public interest writ petition, Vanishree Gnaneswaran of Purasawalkam submitted that school children were carrying schoolbags weighing more than 50 per cent of their body weight.

This could cause major back problems when they reach adulthood, she said.
There are 5,908 government schools and 3,474 private schools in Tamil Nadu and most children carry heavy schoolbags, which could lead to backache and postural problems, the petition added.

The child might even develop a hunchback, it was pointed out.

Several children commute by buses, and they are not in a position to balance themselves while getting in or out of the vehicles. The heavy weight behind their shoulders tilts their balance, the petitioner said, pointing out the additional risk of accidents this could lead to.

The peitioner prayed for a direction from the authorities concerned to direct schools not to force children to carry bags with all books and notebooks, as it would make the schoolbag much heavier than 10 per cent of a child's body weight.

Appeal in HC for lighter schoolbags

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