NEET 2021: Tamil Nadu students campaign on Twitter, #TNRejects_NEET trends

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu has opposed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) since its inception and Friday, the anti-NEET campaign once again gathered steam on social media. Students, even doctors from Tamil Nadu spoke up against a common, nationa-wide medical entrance exam, gathering their posts with the #TNRejects_NEET hashtag. NEET 2021 for admission to undergraduate medicine and allied courses is scheduled for September 12. The DMK government in Tamil Nadu, led by chief minister MK Stalin had established a committee under the retired judge, Justice AK Rajan, to determine the impact of NEET on the students from the backward classes of Tamil Nadu.

People on social media have been asking to cancel the exam as they say it is stopping the marginalised students from becoming doctors. Posts have surfaced asking for justice for a marginalised student ‘Anitha’ who aspires to be a doctor.

“Heartbreaking video of Anitha. "I want to study medicine. It's my ambition," a user tweeted.

Heartbreaking video of Anitha. "I want to study medicine. It's my ambition". #TNRejects_NEET @IlovemyNOAH2019 @BabuVMK @gokula15sai @Hereprak @intellect1233 pic.twitter.com/xZNqF6bXkw

— V S Sarathy Kumar (@VSSarathyKumar) July 16, 2021

A Twitter user said, “A vast majority of doctors from marginalized communities join government service. Tamil Nadu has a doctor for every 253 people, better than WHO guidelines. It is this proud medical revolution that Union Government destroys by NEET that murders our children.”

A vast majority of doctors from marginalized communities join government service. Tamil Nadu has a doctor for every 253 people, better than WHO guidelines. It is this proud medical revolution that Union Government destroys by NEET that murders our children. #TNRejects_NEET pic.twitter.com/l8VdzZuZ5E

— Karthik (@KeezhadiVaarisu) July 16, 2021

“Requesting all friends to support this demand. Tamil Nadu Govt is fighting for the interests of state board students. NEET is elitist and against social justice,” another Twitter user said.

Requesting all friends to support this demand. Tamil Nadu Govt is fighting for the interests of state board students. NEET is elitist and against social justice. #TNRejects_NEET #NOOBC_NONEET pic.twitter.com/DPmNKt4wFD

— Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) July 16, 2021

A student tagging the chief minister said: “We don't want Neet for TN students”.

We don't want Neet for TN students
- MKStalin,
TN CM

#TNRejects_NEET pic.twitter.com/szUL4ECBZA

— Prakash (@Hereprak) July 16, 2021

Another user tweeted, “The right to education is violated blatantly when the children are denied opportunities to pursue the education they want, due to NEET. It is an uneven contest for seats under NEET.”

The right to education is violated blatantly when the children are denied opportunities to pursue the education they want, due to NEET. It is an uneven contest for seats under NEET. #TNRejects_NEET pic.twitter.com/MeJgNXM0tI

— DMK Youth Army?❤️ (@dmk_youthArmy) July 16, 2021

M Subramanian, Tamil Nadu minister for medical and family welfare had asked on Thursday to remove NEET and allow the students to register for all courses on the basis of Class 12 marks, PTI reported. He held a meeting with education minister Dharmendra Pradhan explaining the reasons to scrap the exam. "During the discussion, we explained about the recommendation of the retired Judge AK Rajan-led committee while putting forth our demands,” he said.

Referring to the education minister's explanation on increasing NEET exam cities, Subramanian said "the very issue is about conducting NEET and not about the examination centres. We had said that NEET saw the suicides of 13 students (in Tamil Nadu)."

As per the report, Subramanian told reporters that the union minister assured to examine the demands.

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