Medical aspirant from tribal community sets eyes on govt seat

Coimbatore: After an unsuccessful attempt to secure an MBBS seat in a government medical college last year, T Radhakrishnan is now close to his dream by securing 406 marks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year.
The state government has assured to help him and district collector G S Sameeran is scheduled to meet him in person on Sunday at his house at Athupollachi, which is about 12km away from Pollachi.
Radhakrishnan said it was his resolve to offer a dignified life to his disabled mother that helped him crack NEET. His mother Mahalakshmi, a daily wage labourer, had toiled hard to raise him and his younger brother. He said his relatives had ridiculed her a few years ago when his father left them in the lurch.
“No one could think of becoming a doctor in my family circle and this was also a reason for me to take up NEET. I was expecting 380 marks, but I secured 406. I am satisfied with my performance. But I need to wait for counselling for a medical seat,” Radhakrishnan, who belongs to Mudugar tribal community, said.
Vari Medical Academy, a NEET and JEE training centre at Saravanampatti, has offered to support Radhakrishnan with fees when he gets the MBBS seat. It was at this academy that Radhakrishnan underwent training for NEET for the past one year.
Dr P Lokesh, founder of the coaching centre, said they hadn’t charged Radhakrishnan for coaching, as he could not afford the fees. “We considered him as he was a brilliant candidate with the capability to clear the test.”