SHILLONG: Bent with heavy burden on their backs, hundreds of smartly-clad children make their way to schools across the city and the State without any apparent complain. However, the heavy load has the potential to do irreparable damage to the child’s body.
The KHNAM youth wing has expressed concern over the culture of children carrying such heavy load on a daily basis which is detrimental to their health.
It pointed out that the Maharashtra government constituted a committee to look into the matter following the filing of a PIL by a social activist at Mumbai High Court.
“The Committee came out with five-point finding and 44-point recommendation,” KHNAMÂ state youth wing president, Thomas Passah said adding that the report mentioned that 58 per cent of school children below 10 years have experienced “mild muscle pain” and 75 per cent of children aged 12 years are suffering from various illnesses because of heavy school bags.
“Even the department of health has warned on the health hazards of carrying heavy bags by children while there was a recommendation that the weight of the school bag should not be more than 10 per cent to the weight of the child and that there should be three subjects in a day with two periods for one subject,” he added.
He expressed concern that children will have to bear the burden of carrying pencil box, compass pox, lunch box, water bottle, books and copies etc., which will affect their health and has urged the Education department and the State Education Minister to look in to the issue concerning students who are the future of the state.
