Bhubaneswar: Even as the state government is yet to take a decision on reopening of schools and colleges, students and young aspirants for different jobs have appealed for opening the libraries in the city to help them prepare for the competitive tests.
As all the educational institutions have remained closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the groups of students have made parks and open spaces in the city into reading rooms. They can be found reading, discussing and preparing for the examinations for the Civil Services, banking, railway, and police posts while adhering to the government guidelines like wearing masks and keeping social distance.
They said though they find it enjoyable to study amid peaceful and green environment, they were not getting enough study materials. Since they cannot afford purchasing all the academic and career oriented books, they used to depend on the libraries.
As the government is yet to open the libraries, they were facing problems in the preparation, they said and demanded a decision in this regard soon. If shopping malls and markets can be opened amid restrictions, the libraries can be opened on the same conditions, they added.