A medical candidate was found dead a few hours before the NEET exam. (Representative)
Chennai:
A 19-year-old medical student died by suicide ahead of the NEET medical entrance exam in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district.
After much delay due to the second wave of COVID-19, and amid campaigns for another postponement, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET 2021) for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India will be conducted today across 202 test cities.
The medical aspirant, identified as Dhanush, was the son of a farm laborer and was found dead hours before the NEET exam was to be held. He had failed to clear the last two attempts in NEET.
Soon after his death, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin appealed to the students not to lose hope and assured that a bill against NEET would be brought tomorrow.
He said that the death of the youth reinforces the need to bring education back in the state list.
Stalin said, “The apathy and obstinate attitude of the central government towards NEET has led to suicides by promising students.”
With many politicians and students protesting against the extension of NEET exam this year, the date of NEET clashed with other exams in view of the ongoing pandemic and pleas by many students to reschedule it, including compartment for CBSE students. The exam is also included.
However, the Center had said that it has no plans to postpone NEET and other common entrance examinations.
“We will pass a bill against NEET and I am sure we will get the support of all chief ministers,” Stalin said.
“I appeal to the students not to take any harsh decisions,” the chief minister said.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam, recently got the nod from the Supreme Court of India to conduct it as per schedule. The court dismissed a petition filed by some students, contending that NEET was in conflict with other exams.
Tamil Nadu had scrapped the NEET exam for almost a decade saying it favors the rich as even the meritorious poor students and people from rural areas are unable to afford private coaching. Over the years, 15 medical aspirants have died by suicide in the state.
NEET was introduced during the UPA regime when Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was a part of it. Then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi had managed to get the President’s approval for exemption from NEET for the state. However, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government could not get the same exemption from its BJP ally when it came to power, even though the state assembly passed a bill against NEET.
The ruling DMK recently constituted a commission, headed by retired judge AK Rajan, to study the impact of NEET in medical admissions. Armed with the commission’s report, the state government is expected to get exemption once again. It was also a major election promise made by the party.
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