Patna, (Bihar Times): The Class-X and XII students of six flood-hit districts of North Bihar, who are to appear from the schools affiliated to the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) next year, have been exempted from the examination fees.

According to the chairman of the Board, Prof A K P Yadav, the BSEB decision is to benefit around 1.4 lakh students of the Kosi belt. They, however, would have to pay a token amount of Re 1 as fee while filling the requisite form to make them eligible for taking the final examinations.

The decision has been taken on the direction of the chief minister, Nitish Kumar. Students of Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Araria and Katihar districts are to be benefited by this decision. The last date for submitting the filled-up forms at the Board office with the token fee is November 21.

According to Yadav the normal fee is Rs 830 for the Intermediate Examination (Class XII) and Rs 650 for Class X and the exemption would make the Board incur a loss of Rs 10.35 crore. The loss, however, would be met by cutting extravagant expenditure or by raising its own resources. He said that if it becomes necessary assistance would be sought from the government. He appealed to the teachers of the Kosi belt to take extra classes to enable the students to update their studies.