A father in Maharashtra has gone viral after showing that his 6-year-old son carries a school bag weighing 4.5 kg every day. The post sparked widespread debate online about children’s health and the weight of school bags.
The boy, a Class 1 student in Sambhajinagar, weighs around 21 kg. His father said the bag, combined with a lunch box and books, exceeded the recommended limit, which is about 10 % of a child’s body weight. Experts warn that carrying heavy bags at a young age can cause back, shoulder, and posture problems.
The father, Balu Gorade, posted a photo of the bag on social media and said he had repeatedly asked the school to reduce the load but saw no action. He urged other parents to check their children’s bags and ensure they are not too heavy.
The post received strong reactions. Many social media users said schools should follow guidelines to protect students’ physical health. Some shared personal experiences of carrying heavy books and how it affected their posture and daily comfort. Others pointed out that students often need to carry multiple textbooks and notebooks, which adds unnecessary weight.
According to the National Education Policy 2020, schools are encouraged to limit bag weight and adopt measures such as lockers and digital resources to reduce the load. Parents and child welfare advocates are now using this viral incident to demand stricter adherence to these rules.
The debate has highlighted a larger concern about student wellbeing and the responsibility of schools to prevent health issues caused by heavy school bags. Parents and experts say early intervention is important to avoid long-term health problems.
