Medical college aspirant Anitha’s death is an inconsolable loss (Some editions, “As anger boils over, police battle protesters across State”, September 3). The Central and State governments have to share a substantial part of the blame as they kept her hopes high based on a ‘one-year exemption’.
A certain amount of statesmanship by those in authority could have helped in finding a way out of this crisis by averaging State Board examination marks along with NEET marks. The authorities have also completely failed to prepare students for NEET. In this entire episode there has been a total lack of a human face.
N.G.R. Prasad,
Chennai
It is unfortunate that an aspiring young Dalit student ended her life as she could not secure a seat in medical college as a result of NEET rankings. The vast majority of students in our country, who are also from poor, rural and semi-rural areas, are used to a State syllabus-based system. Admission to medical college on a CBSE-based syllabus is not practical in a multi-lingual country such as India. Not all of them can afford expensive private coaching. Admissions to professional and in this instance medical colleges should be based on a more rational and unbiased system.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru
The tragic end of S. Anitha must not be politicised. The very same Supreme Court which is for NEET was against an all India judicial services examination. The only way of finding a solution is for the retrieval of education from the concurrent list to the State list.
Annadurai Jeeva,
Srirangam, Tamil Nadu
It was because of the oscillatory stance of the State government and a few Central Ministers caused by fear of earning the displeasure of the parents as well as to stem protests by the Opposition parties that confusion reigned in the minds of the student community regarding NEET. Tamil Nadu which once occupied a high pedestal in education has lost its lead in imparting quality education in India. The State government and the Education department should take various measures by revisiting the existing curricula which will enable students to compete in all-India entrance examinations with confidence. Resorting to the easy step of having a cocoon around the student community has to be stopped.
K. Jayanthi,
Chennai
What’s happening now is that some political parties are trying to gain maximum political mileage out of her death. They are setting a bad precedent with their thoughtless remarks against NEET and the various governments. A State or the country has to generate courageous students. Man, they say, cannot control external circumstances, but he can change his attitude to face them with aplomb. The media, political parties and governments should leave no stone unturned in creating students of a high calibre and maturity.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,
Ranipet, Tamil Nadu
There has been widespread criticism by Opposition parties that the NEET mode of admission has deprived many aspiring candidates from the lower strata of society of a medical seat. The introduction of NEET has been on the anvil for many years. The lethargic attitude of the government in preparing students for the eventuality is to be blamed for the present state of affairs and fuelled by the Opposition exerting pressure to have an exemption from NEET to score brownie points. With all States deciding to go with NEET, the Tamil Nadu government found itself on a weak wicket. Whipping up emotions would not be in the best interests of the student community who should be counselled to face the inevitability of NEET with determination. Attention has to be paid to improve the quality of education.
V. Subramanian,
Chennai
My heart goes out to the girl’s family. I hope a tragedy like this never happens again anywhere. If the NEET is here to stay, then the government has to come up with the ways and means to ensure that most meet the grade by providing study material and coaching to those who cannot afford it.
Prasanth G. Narahari,
New York