MK Stalin said that NEET closes the smallest window of opportunity for the students of Tamil Nadu.
Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin today made an emotional appeal to students upset over the issue of appearing in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical courses. His plea came after the third case of suicide was reported in a week related to the controversial exam.
A 17-year-old girl died allegedly by suicide in Tamil Nadu today, the third such death in less than a week. The daily wage earner’s daughter, who appeared for NEET 2021, was worried about clearing it. He had secured 84.9 percent marks in class 12th.
A 17-year-old boy died on Sunday and a 19-year-old boy died on Sunday, hours before the next day’s exam.
Over the years, 15 medical aspirants have died by suicide in the state.
In his appeal, Chief Minister Stalin said, “I beg you, please don’t end your life. Nothing is impossible for you. Study with that confidence. Parents should also instil confidence in children, Not stressing them out.” Advising nervous children to dial 104 to speak to mental health experts.
He said, “NEET closes the small opportunity opened to the students. The central government is a stone pelter. It is not climbing down. We will create a situation to abolish NEET.”
Tamil Nadu on Monday passed a new bill to stop NEET-based admission in medical courses. However, it will not take effect without the signature of President Ram Nath Kovind, as it challenges a central law.
NEET was introduced during the UPA regime when Mr. Stalin’s DMK was a part of it. The then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Karunanidhi – Mr Stalin’s father – had managed to get the President’s assent to exempt the state from NEET.
The AIADMK government, which succeeded in that government, however, failed to get a similar exemption from its ally, the BJP. The Supreme Court also ruled that NEET will continue.
Tamil Nadu had abolished the medical entrance exam for almost a decade, arguing that NEET favored the rich, while poor students and students living in rural areas were left out as they could not afford private coaching. Can. The state had made class 12 marks the basis for admission to medical courses.
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