Stressing on the importance of generating opportunities for government school students taking the NEET examination, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said, “We have enacted a legislation under Rule 110 to give priority to students who have studied in government schools and passed the NEET examination, and today we have made their medical dream come true by enacting it beyond many obstacles. The 7.5% quota law has made the medical dream of poor students come true.” The counselling was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Outdoor Stadium on Wednesday from 9 am.

Following allegations of irregularities over the nativity of students, Dr R Narayana Babu, director of medical education, clarified that certification for all students are checked before they enter the counselling. “Students need to present their documentation proving nativity to the committee. If there are any issues, we have asked candidates to alert us ahead of time through e-mail, or raise the issue at the counselling itself. Students who are not eligible are then directed to the next course of action,” he said.

Health Minister C Vijay Baskar stated that there were various committees formed to ensure smooth counselling process, and that these will verify the nativity certificates, the community certificates and the mark-sheets of the students on the day of counselling itself. For transparency, the ranks were displayed on an LED screen at the centre. Eight students from Corporation public schools got medical seats at the counselling on Wednesday, CM says no to NEET, hails 7.5 pc quota for govt students

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami reiterated that the Tamil Nadu government will continue to seek exemption from NEET. The Chief Minister accused that NEET was brought by Congress, when DMK was in the alliance at the Centre. “Tamil Nadu is the only state to oppose NEET,” he added.

“Of the total 8,41,251 students studying in Class 12, about 3,44,485 students, which is 41 per cent, are from government schools. Yet, only six students got medical admission through NEET last year. This year, 313 students have been benefited by the 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation brought by the state government,” he pointed out. On the impact of rain, the Chief Minister said all precautionary measures have been taken to tackle north east monsoon aftermath and control rooms have been opened for continuous monitoring.

To a query on banning online games, Palaniswami said that the state government has already brought legislation against it. “Only the Union government has the authority to implement the ban,” he added.

On the issue of holding board exams, the Chief Minister just said, ‘nothing can be said now.” Commenting on the issue, School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan in Erode said that a decision on conducting public examination for Class 10, 11 and 12 will be taken by next month. “A decision on conducting board exams will be taken by the end of December,” he told reporters.

The government earlier announced partial reopening of schools on November 16, but dropped after a majority of parents raised apprehension at the Parents and Teachers meeting due to COVID-19.

Stating that Tamil Nadu has been leading by example for other states by providing 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation in medical admission to government school students, the Minister said that 313 students have got a chance to pursue MBBS and 92 students to study BDS.

Sengottaiyan said that training for chartered accountancy courses will commence in January after receiving applications within the end of December. “This year, the CA training will commence for students in Class 11 itself,” he said.