Heavy School Bags: A Ticking Time Bomb for Our Kids’ Health, YJKPC President Mudasir Karim Tweets

Srinagar, Kashmir – December 1, 2024

Youth JKPC President Mudasir Karim has sounded the alarm again on the alarming issue of heavy school bags in J&K, which are silently crippling our kids. Despite categorical orders, no one is checking the weight of these behemoths, putting our children’s health at risk.

The health and comfort of our students are of utmost importance, as highlighted by their distressing complaints of back and neck pain due to heavy school bags. A recent survey revealed that a 3rd-grade child’s school bag can weigh a whopping 7-9 kgs or more, which is a clear indication of the gravity of the situation.

This excessive weight can lead to irreversible damage to a child’s spine, causing lifelong back pain, poor posture, and even long-term disability. The Directorate of School Education Kashmir had passed Order No: DSEK/NEP/425- 35|23, emphasizing the need to monitor school bag weights.

Furthermore, the School Education Department, on 15 April 2020, issued S.O 126, amending the J&K School Education Rules, 2010. The amendments added Rule 8A, stressing the importance of regulating school bag weights. However, the ground reality remains unchanged, with our kids continuing to suffer under the weight of heavy backpacks.

As Mudasir Karim emphasized, “The stats are staggering: a child’s backpack should weigh no more than 10-15% of their body weight, but most bags exceed 20-30%! When will we take action? Our kids’ health is at stake!”

We urge the authorities to take immediate action to enforce the existing orders and regulate school bag weights. It’s time for us to come together to safeguard our kids’ future.