The North Bengal University on Monday issued a notice announcing waiver on the enrolment fees of various semester exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are either from BPL families or have been financially affected because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the applicant will have to submit proper documents to validate their claim.

Sources said that for the past few days NBU Students’ Unity had been raising demand for such a waiver. They also submitted three memorandums to the varsity authorities.

“It is good that the NBU authorities have come up with a notice. But we believe the process of getting the waiver should be simplified,” said Anindita Pandit, a student of Kalipada Ghosh Tarai Mahavidyalaya in Bagdogra.

Pranab Ghosh, the registrar of the NBU, said: “The decision has been taken in view of the pandemic situation. We want the students to get the benefit before appearing in forthcoming semesters exams. Students who are financially affected due to the pandemic or are from poor families can get the waiver. They will, however, have to provide us a certificate issued by the district magistrate, the sub-divisional officer or the block development officer in support of their application.”

According to varsity sources, around one lakh students study in undergraduate courses in 49 colleges affiliated to the varsity while there are around 4,000 students who are pursuing post-graduation in different subjects at the NBU.

For UG courses, students studying in courses which involve use of laboratories need to pay Rs 700 as enrolment fees while for other courses, the fee is Rs 500. For PG courses, the fees is Rs and Rs 450, respectively.