Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged ruling BJD legislators to extend all possible help to students appearing for JEE and NEET exams in the state, which is currently grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and floods.

“Certain restrictions have been relaxed for nine days from August 30, and three days from September 7 to facilitate free movement of the candidates and their parents, examination personnel, and those providing logistics required to ensure smooth conduct of the two examinations,” the CM told PTI.

“Students are the future of the nation… Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure that they do not face any problem while appearing for JEE (Main) and NEET (UG) exam,” he told his party’s lawmakers during a video conference.

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Patnaik asked his MLAs to make sure that students in their constituencies get to write their papers without any problem.

Noting that the pandemic has shaken the global economy, the CM appealed to the MLAs to support frontline workers fighting against the viral disease.

He said that the state’s fatality rate has remained below 1 %due to the dedicated and selfless service of the COVID warriors.