Bhubaneswar: The Odisha state government has decided to exempt differently abled students from fees in government and government-aided higher educational institutions.

This was announced by Minister of State for Higher Education Ananta Das. He said additional secretary in the higher education department G V V Sharma has written to all educational institutions to implement the government’s decision immediately, The New Indian Express reported on October 6.

The minister said differently-abled who use Braille for studies, hearing impaired, orthopedically handicapped with disability of more than 75 percent will be exempted from tuition, examination and certificate fees for pursuing higher education.

Das also said the differently abled students who had already paid fees would be refunded their money. The department has also sought a status report on exemption of fees on differently abled students by October 9, he said.

The differently abled students in school level are exempted from all kinds of fees.