Get President’s assent to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET, Stalin to Prime Minister

Stating that there was a total political and constitutional stalemate in the State and the fate of the NEET legislation was hanging in the air, Stalin, in his letter to the PM, copy of which was circulated to the media, said that as a leader of the party, which abolished the CET (Common Entrance Test) for Professional courses in 2007 in Tamil Nadu, he was of the view that the state has to be exempted permanently from NEET both for MBBS, BDS and PG courses.

Referring to the unanimous passage of the Bill exempting NEET in the state Assembly in deference to the wishes of students, Stalin said that a single “National Eligibility Entrance Test” for MBBS, BDS and PG Medical course all over the country would “Definitely disrupt the interests of the rural students who aspire to become doctors.” 

While the need for “brilliant Doctors” cannot be faulted with, it is equally very important to also have “barefoot Doctors” to provide medical services and health care in rural areas to have a more effective public health care system, the Leader of Opposition said that if NEET was introduced, Students in rural areas would undergo untold hardships and their future aspirations to become doctors would be unjustifiably thwarted. 

Referring to the difference in quantum of reservation for BCs, MBCs and SCs and STs and system, pattern of education and medium of instruction, Stalin appealed to the PM to restore “education” from concurrent list to the state list as a mark of befitting tribute to the co-operative federalism being espoused by the Centre. 

He justified the demand for PM’s immediate intervention, the DMK working president said the NEET examination was scheduled to commence on May 7 and the last date for application was on 1st March 2017.