Chennai, July 20:
Tourism Minister and Congress Legislative Party leader S Rajesh Kumar on Sunday claimed that 37 students in Tamil Nadu had died by suicide since the introduction of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in 2016, alleging that the exam was undermining social justice and placing immense pressure on medical aspirants.
Rajesh Kumar said that prior to 2016, medical admissions in the State were based on Class 12 public examination marks, a system he argued had ensured wider and more equitable access to medical education. He alleged that NEET had turned into a lucrative business for private coaching centres, disadvantaging students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds.
Reiterating a long-standing demand, he called for education to be moved back to the State List. He noted that it was during the tenure of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that education was shifted to the Concurrent List, and argued that restoring State control could help address issues surrounding NEET.
Demanding accountability, Rajesh Kumar urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over alleged lapses in the conduct of NEET. Questioning the examination process, he said, “If a candidate can secure a postgraduate medical seat merely by appearing for the examination, why should such a test be conducted at all?”
He further alleged that more than 150 instances of question paper leaks and other irregularities had occurred since NEET was introduced, calling for a comprehensive review of the system.
The Congress leader also announced that the party would launch a major statewide protest against NEET under the leadership of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore.