Bhubaneswar: In view of the hardships faced by people due to COVID-19 pandemic, Union Minister Pratap Sarangi on Tuesday urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to provide some respite to students by relaxing school fees.
In a letter, Sarangi has urged Patnaik to fully exempt the school fees of wards of Corona Warriors in the State.
Apart from the wards of Corona Warriors, Sarangi has also requested Odisha government to provide 50% fee exemption to the remaining students in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sarangi’s request came in view of the petitions received by him from people regarding the financial hardships faced by the students in meeting their educational requirements during this difficult time.
In his letter, Sarangi wrote, “There is a lurking fear that many students from poor financial ground may discontinue their education as COVID-19 has adversely impacted the livelihood of their parents making their conditions truly indigent.”
Considering the overriding need to help the students continue in their educational pursuits in larger interest, Sarangi urged Odisha CM to announce, “full exemption of school fees of the wards of Corona Warriors, 50 % relaxation of school fees for the remaining students, full exemption of hostel dues during the period of the closure of hostels in all educational institutions.”
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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