Captain Vijayakanth: See Neet as dismantling capitation fees for MBBs seats

CHENNAI: Batting for a positive way of approaching the issue of 'NEET (national eligibility-cum-entrance test) for medical and dental college admissions across the country, the founder-leader of the DMDK, an ally of the BJP-led NDA, 'Captain' Vijayakanth on Sunday contended that the new admission enabling test is aimed at rooting out the capitation fee system for medical college admissions.

The 'NEET' is not only bringing in a transparent, merit-based system of admissions to medical colleges to open their doors to a vast multitude of ordinary students with very humble family backgrounds, but is also changing the old system of having to pay “several lakh rupees” as capitation fee, Vijayakanth said in a statement here while congratulating the NEET rank holders from Tamil Nadu.

The 'NEET' system has brought about a situation where even the most ordinary student can get admission to medical college without any administrative interference, he said. A common updated nation-wide syllabi for professional courses like medicine will help to raise educational standards, as much as a common entrance exam to medical colleges such as 'NEET' will help students to qualitatively improve their knowledge level and skill sets and boost their overall confidence bank and self-esteem, the DMDK leader said.

Urging one and all including all political parties not to politicise the NEET issue, Vijayakanth congratulated Ms Sruthi from Tiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu and other students from the state who have achieved a high rank in the NEET selection list.

Vijayakanth pointed out that a time when the disturbing news of the Central government informing the Madras High court about two Tamil Nadu bills seeking exemption for the State's students from 'NEET' had been rejected and not sent for President's approval broke out, on the other hand there has also been the good news that several hundred students from Tamil Nadu have indeed cleared 'NEET' this year, securing good ranks.

Stating that there was no dearth of young talent in Tamil Nadu, the DMDK leader said if the Tamil Nadu government further improved and fine-tuned its coaching for NEET exam preparations, then greater will be the success rate of medical aspirants from the State in clearing 'NEET' and getting admissions to medical colleges in larger numbers.

This will enable Tamil Nadu to be a hub of talented medical doctors in future and lead the country in this field, Vijayakanth said, adding, the DMDK though will never accept any scheme that affected the interests of Tamil Nadu students.