Tamil Nadu: Woman teacher quits government job to protest against Neet

Chennai: A teacher of a government school in Villupuram district near here, Sabarimala Jayakandhan, 34, created a flutter when she quit her job over National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (Neet), moved by the tragic end of MBBS aspirant S. Anitha of Kuzhumur village in Ariyalur.

This Panchayat Union Middle School teacher at Vairapuram in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district, tendered her resignation on Thursday and demanded the Central and state governments to evolve a nationwide uniform education policy and syllabus to empower students by ensuring them equal opportunities to face competitive examinations like Neet. "My conscience did not permit me to keep quiet after witnessing the prevailing scenario and the tragic death of Anitha. As my government job is preventing me to express myself, I have decided to resign," Sabarimala said.

On Wednesday morning she wanted to express her "just feelings" and so began a token fast in front of the Panchayat Union Middle School, Vairapuram, but was denied permission by authorities citing lack of permission for government teachers to stage agitation against the government. "I felt that I didn't need the job, which denied me an opportunity to take up the people's cause despite receiving my salary from (tax payers') people's money. So I resigned my government job this morning," she said.

 Sabarimala met district elementary education officer (DEEO) at Tindivanam and submitted her resignation. The DEEO is said to have directed her to submit a copy to the assistant education officer.

 She expressed that she was not against any entrance examinations like Neet but "may be later, it will be scrapped and replaced with some other entrance tests." "My demand is that we prepare students for successfully writing entrance examinations, including Neet or any other screening examinations."  Sabarimala's son J. Jayacholan is studying in class 2 in the same school. Her husband Jayakandhan is a station master at Mailam railway station.

 "I am planning to visit rural areas to garner support from students and teaching fraternity for a uniform education policy in the country," she announced.

College students intensify Neet stir
Anti Neet protests in the state to condemn the death of medical aspirant Anitha intensified on Thursday as the protests entered the sixth day.
In Chennai, the protests were held at 23 places and thousands of students participated in the protests. Students from New College, Pachaiyappa’s College, Loyola College and St.Thomas College have boycotted their classes and raised slogans against Neet in their campuses.In some districts, school students also jumped into the protests. Student activists have petitioned the CM cell demanding to invite them for talks.