JOIN USStrongly objecting to introducing National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for medical aspirants, the Tamil Nadu government has said it infringes on the state’s right to regulate admissions to medical educational institutions.
"I am deeply concerned by reports that based on a proposal by the Medical Council of India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sought the views of other Ministries on the introduction of a common examination for medical admission", chief minister J Jayalalitha said.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jayalalitha said the reports created confusion and frustration in the minds of thousands of students in the State.
Reiterating Tamil Nadu’s view that entrance exams by design favour urban elite students, Jayalalitha said students from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly from rural areas, are unable to compete with those from the urban elite.
“Rural students are at a disadvantage because they lack the resources to enroll in training institutes and coaching classes, and also lack access to study materials available to urban students", she said, adding those from the backward socioeconomic backgrounds with merits have benefited by the abolition of entrance tests.
Since the Centre has already petitioned to review the Supreme Court judgement and the same is pending, Jayalalitha said it will not be proper to consider any proposal to introduce NEET for admission to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses.