OTV Impact: Differently-abled Class X student provided scribe assistance in exam writing

The Education Department of the Odisha government swung into action after a report aired on OTV highlighted the plight of differently-abled students who were denied scribes for their Matriculation examinations.

Following the news coverage, a scribe has been provided to Gautam Mohanty, a Class X differently-abled student from Khalingi High School under Sanakhemundi block in Ganjam district, to assist him in writing his examination.

Gautam, along with several other differently-abled students, had reportedly been deprived of the facility of a scribe. After the matter was brought to the attention of the Education Department, necessary steps were taken, and a scribe was appointed.

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The Board has now arranged a student to assist Gautam during his examination. Expressing relief and happiness, Gautam’s family members thanked the authorities for the timely intervention.

"We are thankful to the government and OTV. After the report was aired on OTV about Gautam, many other children have benefited. Gautam is not able to hold the pen. He is also not able to speak properly. Hence, we requested to provide a scribe, and the government helped," said Gautam's grandfather.

"After the report was aired about Gautam on OTV, many other students like him got help. We had requested the Education Department to provide a scrib,e and the department stepped forward," said a relative of Gautam.