NEET suicide in Chennai: No suicide note found, an official said. (Representative)
Chennai:
A medical aspirant died by suicide in Chennai on Wednesday, weeks before he took the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a mandatory entrance test for admission to the country’s medical colleges.
In a video message to his parents and siblings, 18-year-old P Danush, son of an auto driver, said, “I could not achieve, I could not succeed. Only I am responsible for my own death. ” This video could not be independently verified by NDTV.
An officer probing the matter said that no suicide note was found.
Investigators said the student, belonging to a tribal community, had enrolled in a private medical college last year, but his family could not pay its fees or take admission in private coaching. He was preparing on his own to make it to the Government Medical College this year.
Over 20 medical aspirants, including board toppers, have died by suicide in Tamil Nadu over the years after failing to secure enough marks in NEET for admission to government colleges.
Tamil Nadu strongly opposes NEET, arguing that the system favors only those who can afford private coaching. The state government claims that the exam puts poor and rural students at a disadvantage.
For almost a decade, the state allowed medical admission purely on the basis of class 12 marks.
Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a bill seeking exemption from NEET based on the recommendations of Justice AK Rajan Committee. After inordinate delay, the Governor has forwarded it to the President, who has not acted on it yet. A similar bill of the previous AIADMK government was rejected by the President.
In what is seen as growing support for Tamil Nadu’s stand on NEET, at least three other states – Karnataka, West Bengal and Kerala – have sought exemption from the entrance test.
Many experts argue that NEET is only a ploy to ensure a steady stream of students in private medical colleges, largely owned by politicians who collect exorbitant fees.
However, there are claims that the system has checked the previously prevalent irregular admissions process based on donations.
Meanwhile, some suggest that NEET may be restricted to admissions only in private colleges.