GUWAHATI: Carrying excessively heavy school bags is taking a toll on students' health, with many reporting severe neck and back pain. The issue has persisted despite government regulations aimed at reducing the burden.
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Talking to GPlus, Amit Gupta (name changed), a Class 6 student at a CBSE school, said he has been suffering from severe muscle strain and changes in bone structure due to the 7 kg bag he carries daily. “There are 6 to 8 books, 12 notebooks, a tiffin box, water bottle, and other essentials. Carrying it up to my third-floor classroom is exhausting,” he shared.
Another student, Rita, from Class 7 said, “We at times complain or state about our heavy school bags, but the authorities generally do not heed. It is difficult to carry everything, given the extent of studies today.”
In 2020, the central government issued a policy stating that school bags should not exceed 10% of a student’s body weight. According to the guidelines:
-Classes I-II: Bags should weigh under 2.2 kg
-Classes IV-VI: Less than 3 kg
-Class VIII: Not more than 4.5 kg
-Classes XI-XII: Maximum 5 kg
However, many students still carry bags weighing 7-10 kg, exceeding the recommended limits. Parents report that students in Classes 5-7 typically carry around 7-8 kg, while those in Classes 11-12 haul up to 10 kg.
Medical professionals warn that heavy school bags can cause serious orthopedic disorders.
Speaking to GPlus, a senior orthopedic consultant at Apollo Hospitals, Guwahati said, “We see 2-3 cases every week of students aged 12-16 suffering from neck sprain or back pain. The continuous pressure leads to spinal distortion, muscle injuries, and even increases the risk of spondylitis.”
Another medical professional from Guwahati said, “The human body has a limit to how much weight it can bear. Prolonged exposure to heavy loads can cause muscle fractures and permanent bone issues.”
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recommends that schools provide storage space for notebooks and reference books, reducing the need for students to carry them daily. While some junior classes follow this, senior students still have to bring everything home.
School administrators cite space constraints and concerns about misplacing notebooks as reasons for not implementing storage solutions. Talking to GPlus, the principal of a school in Guwahati said, “We do try to implement such measures so that the students do not feel the burden. We try to keep lesser periods and subjects in a day, so that the students do not have to carry all the books or notebooks daily. However, we also suggest that parents can help by choosing lightweight bags and avoiding unnecessary items.”
Another teacher in a private school in Guwahati said, “We advise students to keep their belongings such as the books and notebooks at the school premises but they also have to take those home at times, due to studies or homework. So, that becomes an issue.”
The growing number of cases related to spinal disorders, muscle pain, and posture issues among schoolchildren highlights the urgent need for strict implementation of school bag weight policies. Schools and parents have to collectively take proactive steps to reduce this burden and safeguard students' health.
