In memory of and as a tribute to S. Anitha, the Dalit girl who challenged the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in the Supreme Court, her family members have built a library at Kuzhumur near Senthurai, her native village, in Ariyalur district.
The library, named after Anitha, was declared open on the first anniversary of her untimely death on Saturday.
Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan inaugurated the library in the presence of a large number of people who had come from different parts of the State.
A statue of Anitha was unveiled in her native village. Her father Shanmugam and brothers Manirathinam, Pandian and Arunkumar were present on the occasion.
The library was built using the cash assistance provided to her family by various political parties, social and cultural organisations and individuals. A sum of ₹45 lakh was spent on the project, sources said.
Currently, the library has a collection of about 2,500 books, with more books to be added soon.
Mr. Veeramani said Anitha fought for securing an exemption from NEET until her last breath. “One year has passed since her untimely death. But her dream of liberating the students from NEET is yet to be fulfilled. The Central government is not at all listening to the genuine concerns of, and the difficulties being faced by, the rural and marginalised sections of society, in relation to NEET. The agitations against NEET will continue until the State is exempted from its ambit,” he said.
Mr. Thirumavalavan said the most recent NEET results proved that the poor and rural students were still suffering. NEET shattered the ambitions of thousands of students to pursue MBBS, he said. The VCK would make NEET an election issue in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, he added.