10-kg school bag weighs heavy on CCPCR mind

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 25 

The 10kg weight of school bags of students from classes V and VI shocked members of the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR). They conducted a surprise visit at Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, to inspect safety and security of the children and implementation of the RTE Act, 2009.

Harjinder Kaur, chairperson of the commission, said, “During the inspection, bags of the students were found to be too heavy, especially of classes V and VI. It weighted around 10kg. The school authorities are advised to device some mechanism as per the Yashpal Committee report to decrease the bag load.”

She said a medical survey conducted in the recent past had suggested that due to heavy load of school bags, almost 50 per cent of the elementary school children have started suffering from back pains, spinal abnormalities and scoliosis.

According to health experts, children can suffer permanent back damage, if they are made to carry a school bag more than 15 per cent of their body weight on their shoulders regularly in their formative years.

It was found that the school had kept feedback register instead of complaint boxes. The team advised the school authorities to install complaint boxes in the junior wing also. The team suggested placing of the boxes where children could easily access it and principal should check the boxes on daily-basis. The team also suggested the installation of the CCTV cameras in all the sensitive places of school, such as parking area of school buses, playground, entry doors of washrooms and basement.

Besides, the team suggested installation of web-based CCTV cameras in the elementary and kindergarten classes.

The team ordered an immediate police verification of employees and construction of rest room along with washroom for drivers, conductors of school buses. 

Word of appreciation

The CCPCR team appreciated the school authorities for maintaining cleanliness on the school premises and records of students’ activities. It was also noted that the school was organising various activities for better leaning experiences and even accommodating students from economically weaker sections.

Parking problem

nThe CCPCR team took a serious note of the illegal parking of school buses and dangling electric wires hanging from the electric transformer. Harjinder Kaur, chairperson, CCPCR, said, “The matter will be taken up with the authorities concerned.” 

n “During the inspection, the team sought an explanation regarding the parking of school buses outside of school boundary from the State Transport Authority, UT,” stated the communique issued by the CCPCR.