JEE-NEET student group urges NTA, NHRC to address increasing NEET-related suicides

NEW DELHI: With the growing number of NEET-related suicide cases, the All India JEE-NEET Students Association (AIJNSA) has written to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take immediate action to address the mental stress faced by MBBS aspirants. As many as five NEET UG 2023 aspirants died by suicide this year.

Stating that it is “essential to ensure that students are not pushed to the brink of suicide due to academic pressure”, the students group said that officials should ensure that there is sufficient gap between board exams and NEET UG exam, exam city centres are timely allotted, and better coordination between state board and National Testing Agency (NTA).

The NEET 2023 is the single-largest medical entrance exam conducted in India for MBBS ,BDS admission and is considered as one of the toughest exams. There were several irregularities and paper leak case reported in exams held in the previous years. Noting the same, the AIJNSA urged the NTA to prevent irregularities in the exam process.

Also read | 119 medical students died by suicide in last 5 years, over 1,000 dropped out: RTI reply

It also pointed out that the NEET UG exam city slip 2023 was issued just six days before the NEET UG 2023. Usually, the exam city intimation slip is issued at least 10-15 days before the exam, so that the students can make necessary arrangements. The delay in allotment of exam city has added to the mental stress of students. The NTA today issued the NEET UG admit card 2023 today at neet.nta.nic.in, three days before the NEET exam date 2023.

Further, the students group requested the NHRC to include counselling services, helplines and other resources to cope with the pressure.

NEET 2023: Suicide cases

A 18-year old NEET aspirant hailing from Kothagudem in Telangana allegedly died by suicide by jumping from the building of a coaching academy last month. The student took the extreme step following harassment by hostel roommates.

Abhishek Yadav, a resident of Badaun district in Uttar Pradesh, hanged himself in a coaching institute in Kota. This was the fourth case this year from Kota. In his suicide note, he had apologised and said that he was under study pressure. Two more aspirants also ended their life this year.

The number of medical students who died by suicide are also alarmingly increasing. A RTI reply had revealed that 119 students, 64 MBBS and 55 postgraduate medicos, died by suicide in the last five years.

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