There are many more like them. Dr Manish Trivedi, head of the physiotherapy department at Apang Manav Mandal, says that every year, about 150 children suffering from back pain caused by heavy school bags are referred to him. Orthopaedic surgeon Kalpan J. Desai has also noticed cases of neck pain and muscular pain of shoulders.

Dipen, a fourth standard student, complained that a heavy bag left weals on his shoulders. He said he wised he had a lighter bag to carry.

Educationists admit that little children have to carry a heavy load. Says Father Charlie Dias, principal of St Xavier's Loyola Hall Primary School, ``Children have to study too many subjects these days. So they have to carry a large number of books and notebooks.'' His school has, therefore, made arrangements to keep books in the school.

Shobha Tyagi, principal of Maharaja Agrasen Vidyalaya, agrees that the number of books needs to be reduced, but holds the parents, along with the education system, responsible for the situation. ``Parents demand more from their children and put them in schools where more books are taught,'' she said.

Many parents do, in fact, regard the heavy school bag as little more than a necessary inconvenience which will do their child good in the long run. Says Meenaben, whose son is in standard VI, ``The world is becoming increasingly competitive. The children have to prepare to face it.'' Girishbhai, whose son studies in standard VII, also feels that ``there is no alternative''.

Although Meenaben says that children should not be overburdened, she has no idea of what is correct. His son's school bag weighs seven kgs. Dr Dhiren Ganjwala says ``a weight up to five kgs is tolerable'', otherwise the child will have problems.

Some parents do, however, sound concerned, if only because of the doctors' bill. Kanubhai, whose son studies in standard III, says the burden should be reduced because ``middle class parents like me cannot take their children to doctors frequently''. His son Jignesh has to carry all his books, and separate notebooks for class work, home work, and rough work.

P.C. Vaidya, renowned educationist and former vice-chancellor of Gujarat University, is of the opinion that there should be no books till third standard. ``Till then students should be taught with a chalkstick and a slate only,'' he said. Shobha Tyagi remarked, ``Books should be meant for teachers as they are required to teach, not for students.''

Back in 1993, a committee headed by Prof Yash Pal had suggested that ``textbooks should be deemed property of the school and be kept in the school. Students need not be asked to buy textbooks individually and carry them to the school every day. Schools should prepare a timetable for use of textbooks for doing homework''.

Later, the state government formed a committee to work out modalities for implementation of the recommendations, but its report is still awaited. Minister of State for Education Anandiben Patel said that the government could change the existing system only after an alternative had been worked out. Until this happens, do as the doctor prescribes. Dr Manish Trivedi recommends that children should be given light, comfortable footwear, taught the right postures of carrying weight, do appropriate exercises and take proper diet. The bag should be slung across body, and not carried on shoulders, says Dr Kalpan Desai.