Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today directed all district collectors to ensure strict implementation of the guidelines for reduction of weights of students’ school bags.
As per the guidelines, both government and private-run schools will have to set the accurate weight of students’ school bags. The weight of school bag along with text books and notebooks was to be limited to 1.5 kg for Class- I and II, two-three kgs for Class III to V, four kgs for Class VI to VII, 4.5 kgs for Class VIII and IX and 5 kgs for Class-X students.
In a letter, School and Mass Education Joint Secretary PK Mishra instructed all district Collectors to constitute special squads at district levels to visit schools and verify compliance of the guidelines on urgent basis, reports local media.
The government had earlier issued repeated instructions to district collectors to constitute squads comprising DEOs or DPCs as chairman and BEOs, DCPOs, police officers and staff of NGOs as members. The squads were supposed to verify violation of any of the provisions, if any, and submit report to the respective Directorates and School and Mass Education department.
However, no action taken report regarding constitution of the squads and action taken by the same has been received till date, the letter stated. The S and ME department asked all collectors to furnish required information on formation of squads by February 20 for further necessary action at this level.
Last month, the Orissa High Court had asked the State government to file a compliance report on weight of school bags and has set a 35-day deadline for the same.
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