By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 1, 2019: In a belated move, the Odisha government on Thursday issued an order directing all district education officers and Collectors to ensure implementation of Centre’s guidelines for reduction of weight of school bags for students from Class I to X.

The School and Mass Education Department, in a letter addressed to all District Education Officers (DEOs) and Collectors has asked to conduct surprise inspections in schools across the state and take stringent action if anyone found violating the rule.

Incidentally, the Union Ministry for Human Resource Development in October last year directed all States to draw up guidelines to reduce the weight of schoolbags.

The Department has instructed the DEOs and Collectors to form special teams to the same and submit the report by September, the letter said.

This apart, the officials were also asked to check whether the students are using the books prescribed by the National Council of Education Research & Training (NCERT) and State Council of Education Research & Training (SCERT).