Centre should act to get President nod for exempting TN students

Chennai: Educationists and activists from Tamil Nadu are demanding that the central government get the President's assent to the act exempting the state students from the purview of the common medical entrance test NEET.

They were speaking at a seminar organised by the State Platform for Common School System and Tamil Nadu Health Development Association on Neet (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) in the city on Sunday.

While inaugurating the seminar Justice D.Hariparanthaman, the former judge, Madras High Court said, "The Tamil Nadu legislature unanimously passed the bill exempting the students from NEET exam. Even after 20 days of passing the act, it is yet to get the President's assent and the exam is fast approaching."

Stating it is unfair to ask the state board students to appear for the NEET exam, he said, "In Tamil Nadu 98% of the plus two students studying under state syllabus. But the common medical entrance test is based on CBSE syllabus. So, the large portion of the NEET syllabus will be new for the Tamil Nadu students.

There are so many languages, cultures and disparities in India. You can't have the single entrance exam".

P.B. Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System said, "To fulfil the aspirations of the people in the state, the government can make its own law and regulations." He said the Centre is interfering in the State's right on deciding the admission procedure for the state government medical colleges.

"The state assembly has passed the act exempting the Tamil Nadu students from NEET unanimously. The central government should take all the actions to get the President's assent to the act and should not place any hurdle," he urged.

He further said that NEET does not make any person eligible. "On the contrary, the really eligible students from marginalised sections who are not able to spend their time, energy and money will be kept out of the race for medical seats," he argued.

"The two acts are exempting UG and PG courses from NEET. But the super speciality courses were not exempted. These courses also should be exempted from NEET," said Dr G.R. Ravindranath, Doctors' Association for Social Equality. "For deemed universities, private medical colleges and government colleges, the state government should conduct the single window counselling. The private colleges should not admit the students and collect the fees," he urged.   The resolution against the exit test for medical students also passed in the seminar. Medical students, government school toppers, parents and activists attended the event.