IIT Delhi has appealed to its students and alumni to help those appearing for the JEE and NEET examinations with transport to reach their exam centres in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The institute's director said that responding to an SOS call from engineering aspirants who were unable to travel to their test centres for writing the JEE (Mains) this week, IIT students and alumni promptly came forward and launched a dedicated portal, tied up with four cab companies, created a helpline and have started reaching out to over 1000 such aspirants.
“As citizens, we need to stand up together in times of crisis and help each other. If I am in a village and have a car, and if there is a poor student who needs to go to the examination centre and cannot afford private transport, I would take the student to the examination hall. I would do it entirely free of cost. That’s such a natural thing to do. I hope to hear such stories after the examination is over,” IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao said. “Can IIT alumni or current students, who are spread all over the country, take the lead in creating a registration portal for such needy students and help take care of their logistics? The Olas and Ubers have IIT alumni at the helm. Can they participate in this initiative?” he said in an appeal.
Acting upon the same, the IIT Delhi Alumni Association, a registered charitable society, has begun a crowdfunding initiative for those who cannot afford a cab service for the exam-takers on the day of the exam. "IITDAA is keen to ensure that students appear for JEE/NEET exams without any pressure, and thereby, allow them to put up their best performance. IITDAA initiatives will help the State Governments to conduct JEE/NEET exams in a healthy and hygienic environment. IITDAA has assured that we will extend full support and cooperation to provide logistics to such needy students," said Ravindra Kumar, President, IITDAA. He added that they are in the process of signing agreements with Ola cabs, Aha Taxis for the same.
An alumnus from Madhya Pradesh, who sought help from the government regarding the same issues has also received aid from the state government, who on Monday asked district officials to help with transportation of student from remote areas. "According to the data we have collected, almost 80 kids from MP are taking the exams and the government will be able to help with their transport if they are in areas where cab services are unavailable," added Ravindra.
Out of a total of 24 lakh students who will take these exams, the admit cards have already been downloaded by more than 10 lakh students for NEET 2020 and nearly 7.5 lakhs students for JEE Main. Amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial entrance exams in September, including JEE-Mains, JEE-Advanced, and NEET due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Education (MoE), has recently asserted that further delay in conducting the exams can lead to a zero-academic year.
