False hope was given to medical aspirants

Delayed tactics adopted by the government and politicians, and a setback in the apex court over National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), depleted the confidence level of Dalit medical aspirant Anitha, which forced her to commit suicide, said S. Ilango, President, Indian Public Health Association on Friday.

Talking to media persons here, he said the confidence level of students who scored more than 1,700 marks in HSC examination was high, as they were sure of getting a medical seat in government colleges.

Anitha had a 196.5 cut-off mark.

Denial of seat to such a meritorious student had driven her to depression, he pointed out.

Initial activities of the State Government – repeated appeals to the Centre for exemption to NEET, State ministers meeting with Central Ministers and the latter’s assurance — had given false hope to medical students. Denial of exemption to NEET by the Supreme Court was a great set back to students of Tamil Nadu.

Even the last-minute efforts to get exemption at least for this year too fizzled out.

This depressed the medical aspirants.

More than 1,200 students, who got more than the eligible (189 to 192+) cut-off marks to get admission in medical colleges in the State could not get admission this year.

But students who scored less marks in HSC and got 250 out of a total 700 in NEET got admission, he pointed out.

The Government could have deputed counsellors to identify meritorious students in rural areas and given counselling about other prospective courses, or give assurance on admission next year by offering free training for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test , he added.