Chennai, May 28 (BPNS)
While the DMK government and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu continue their stiff opposition to National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), the number of students who have applied for the All India exam for medical college admissions has breached pre-Covid days. The number of students who have applied for NEET from Tamil Nadu has touched 1,42,286 applicants.
The number of students who have applied for NEET in 2022 is 20% more than the figures of 2021.
This has crossed the 1.4 lakh applicants in 2019 just before Covid -19.
With this figure, Tamil Nadu ranks third in the number of applicants in the country with Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh ranking first and second.
It may be noted that the exemption from NEET has been one of the major election promises of the DMK and the party has passed resolutions in the state assembly for exemption of students from Tamil Nadu from the All India entrance examination.
Sudhir Raj, educationist and owner of an entrance coaching institution in Chennai while speaking to IANS said, “ There is no option left for the students of Tamil Nadu other than writing NEET as the exemption has not been obtained. The government of Tamil Nadu must provide support to the students of Government schools and from rural backgrounds with the necessary coaching to attempt NEET. “
The increase in the number of applicants from Tamil Nadu is a setback for the DMK government of the state as this means students are least affected by the continuous campaign conducted by the DMK and its allies against the NEET.
However, it is a fact that without proper training and coaching students will find it difficult to crack the All India entrance test, and the only way out for the students of rural backgrounds is to be given proper coaching by the Government.
It is a fact that even though the state government is opposed to NEET students will continue to take it as there is no other option at present other than appear for NEET to get admission to medical colleges.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University and a votary for NEET and CUET, Dr. Balaguruswamy while speaking to BPNS said, “ State government should prepare government school students for NEET instead of playing politics over the examination. Government should also support students from poor backgrounds with examination fees for NEET as they may not be able to afford the exam fee.”
