Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin tabled a bill seeking permanent exemption from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for students from the state on Monday in the Assembly. The opposition party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam raising several other issues staged walkout in the Assembly. However, Opposition said they will support the resolution.
The bill was proposed on the recommendation made in the report by Judge Rajan's panel. The report suggested the state government to pass a law such as Tamil Nadu Act 3/207 and recommend it to the President. The state has been opposing NEET since its implementation by the Union government. The entrance examination led to a furore in the state as Dhanush, farm labourer's son, was found dead in his room hours before he was slated to take the exam for the third time in a row.
“It is clear from the report of retired Judge Rajan's panel that NEET selection is not a neutral selection process. DMK has been opposing NEET from the very beginning. In order to implement it, I propose the bill for admission to medicine, dentistry, and homeopathy based on the marks obtained in the Class 12 examination" Stalin said in the assembly.
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"Over the past four years, NEET has shattered the hopes and dreams of students belonging to the socially and economically backward class and added huge financial burden too. It also fosters inequality. Supports the economically and most privileged class of the community who can receive specialized training."
"According to the report, the panel recommended that the state government pass a law such as Tamil Nadu Act 3/207 and recommend it to the President" he further said. "The underprivileged are severely affected. The doctors and dentists selected from Tamil Nadu before the NEET were very talented," added Stalin.
"School exam scores don't spoil the exam system in any way. The bill seeks to conduct medical student admissions only on the basis of Class 12 marks," said Stalin.
"All members must co-operate unanimously to pass this bill against NEET which becomes a biocide. Numerous students, starting with Anita, have been killed by the NEET exam. Even yesterday, a student from the Salem district died due to NEET. I urge members to co-operate passing the bill unanimously to exempt NEET from becoming a biocide" he further added.
A panel headed by retired Justice Rajan was set up to study the NEET selection process. The report was compiled from study of 86,345 people. The state has witnessed 14 NEET aspirants committing suicide. Anitha was the first NEET aspirant to commit suicide in 2017. NEET exemption was one of the key features of the ruling party- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's poll campaign.
