Karnataka Education Department issues circular setting limits for school bag weight
Schools told to observe ‘no bag day’ once a week
Bengaluru: The Education Department of Karnataka has issued a circular, based on earlier survey reports, stating that the school bag weight may be between 1.5 kg and 5 kg, depending on the age of the child, adding that schools should have a ‘no bag day’ once a week.
Going by the report ‘Learning Without Load’ submitted by the Yashpal Verma Committee of 1993, ‘School Bag Policy 2020’ of the Central Government, the survey report submitted by the Centre for Child and the Law, the State Department of Education Research and Training as well as the recommendations of orthopaedic experts, the Education Department has said that school children may carry a maximum load of 15 per cent of their body weight.
The weights of the school bag have been set by the Education Department as 1.5 kg to 2 kg for children of Classes 1 and 2; 2 kg to 3 kg for children of Classes 3 to 5; 3 kg to 4 kg for children of Classes 6 to 8; and 5 kg for children of Classes 9 and 10. The circular adds that every school should observe a ‘no bag day’ once a week, preferably on Saturdays.
School teachers have been instructed to ensure that the study material for a day, including textbooks, does not exceed the given weight limit. The notebooks should not be more than 200 pages. Every school should have drinking water facility, to save the children from having to carry additional weight of water bottles. Parents of the students too should be made aware of the ill-effects of carrying heavy school bags, the Department has said in the circular, with a warning that stringent action would be taken against schools and teachers who violate the instruction regarding the matter.
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Sai Baba temple at Shirdi not to allow garlands, bouquets, shawls inside
Mumbai, May 10 (PTI): Amid heightened security concerns in the country, the Sai Baba temple trust at Shirdi in Maharashtra has decided not to allow garland, bouquets and shawls to brought inside the temple complex.
The famous temple which draws millions of devotees every year had received a threatening email last week.
Goraksh Gadilkar, a member of the Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, said devotees will be searched before entering the temple.
"The Sansthan received a threat email on May 2. In view of India-Pakistan tensions and the security alert across the country, flowers, garlands, prasad and shawls will not be allowed inside," he told PTI.
The Ahilyanagar district police have also made some suggestions to enhance the security of the temple.
On Friday, the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai said it will not allow garlands, prasad and coconuts inside from May 11.
