TN Assembly Votes to Abolish NEET, Citing Social Justice Concerns
TN Assembly Votes to Abolish NEET, Citing Social Justice Concerns
Tamil Nadu Assembly recently adopted a resolution urging the Union government to scrap NEET for UG medical courses. Discover the reasons behind this significant move and its potential impact on medical admissions. #NEETA
The Tamil Nadu Assembly recently took a significant stand by unanimously adopting a resolution that calls for the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical courses. This move reiterates the state's long-standing concerns, citing repeated irregularities in the examination's conduct, the burgeoning of coaching centers, and the tragic loss of young lives.
Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Minister K.G. Arunraj, who moved the resolution, urged the Union government to make necessary amendments to various central acts, including the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The aim is to revert to a system where admissions to medical courses in the state are based on marks obtained in the Class XII examination, a system which the state believes aligns better with social justice principles.
This isn't the first time Tamil Nadu has voiced its opposition. The Assembly had previously adopted resolutions seeking exemption from NEET. Notably, in 2021, a similar bill passed by the DMK government was reserved for presidential consideration, but assent was withheld, leaving the state in a continued legal tussle with the central government over the matter.
The resolution highlighted that NEET goes against the principles of social justice and equality, and infringes upon the rights of states concerning medical education. While the resolution saw overwhelming support, the lone BJP MLA, M. Bhojarajan, opposed it and staged a walkout before the voting commenced, indicating the national-level political divide on the issue.
The state's stance has also garnered support from prominent figures. Actor-politician Vijay has publicly extended his support to the Tamil Nadu government's resolution, demanding NEET's abolishment and advocating for education to be brought under the State list. Furthermore, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has previously urged President Droupi Murmu to provide assent to the anti-NEET Bill, emphasizing the state's unwavering commitment to its cause.
