The HSC exam began yesterday, but the run-up to the exams was fraught with tension and worry for many. Several students who are appearing for the exam had not found writers till the last minute. Many visually challenged students were struggling to find writers and others with special needs had also crowded state board's Mumbai Division office in Vashi, seeking help for the same. Social media was buzzing with messages from visually challenged students seeking writers, even as the clock ticked on.

While students with special needs were wringing their hands in agony, there were also emergencies — a girl fractured her hand just a day prior to the exam and needed a writer at the last minute. All the problems highlighted in a front-page report in this paper point to the fact that it is time to get serious about making a concerted bank of writers.