
The Uttarakhand government has announced a novel initiative to alleviate the burden of books on students by introducing ten “bag-free” days per academic session across all state schools. According to an official release, these days will occur on the last Saturday of each month, allowing upper primary and secondary school students from class 6 to class 12 to attend school without carrying books. The move aligns with the National Education Policy of 2020.
During these bag-free days, students will participate in diverse activities tailored to their interests and aptitude. Subjects such as soil management, machine learning, pottery, woodwork, calligraphy, health education, communication skills, nature conservation, welding, casting, stitching, and robotics will be covered. The goal is to foster the holistic development of students, enhancing not only their academic knowledge but also nurturing their inherent talents, as stated by State Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat.
The scheme has been successfully implemented in primary schools as “Pratibha Diwas,” allowing students to engage in activities of their choice. Various associations of parents and teachers have applauded this decision, considering it a significant step toward the overall development of students. The state education minister has approved a departmental proposal for the introduction of bag-free days in schools statewide. Once a government order is issued, implementation will commence, with these days scheduled to begin from the upcoming academic session in April.