Tamil Nadu is probably the only state in the country that has opposed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination, especially fuelled by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). They tried to politicise the issue further after the tragic suicide of a young student named Anita. The present Tamil Nadu government has made numerous efforts to cancel the NEET exam, with the recent passage of the NEET Exemption Bill in the state’s legislative assembly. However, the bill’s approval by the Governor remains pending.
Amid this ongoing “battle” against NEET, the DMK has initiated a signature drive called “NEET Vilakku Nam Ilakku – NEET Exemption Our Goal. The goal is to collect 50 lakh signatures from citizens, which will then be presented to the President through the Chief Minister.
In an event marking the launch of this campaign, former Union Minister and Central Chennai DMK MP, Dayanidhi Maran, shared his “personal struggle” about NEET. Maran expressed his deep concern about the NEET exam’s impact on students from the state curriculum and government schools. He recounted his own family’s commitment to the DMK, highlighting that they had all studied in the state curriculum, eschewing the CBSE system.
Maran said, “We will not study in CBSE school, that is how we feel. Why should we study Hindi? What are we going to achieve by learning Hindi? So we never studied Hindi. Later, a daughter was born to me. My wife asked me to enroll her in a CBSE school. I said no, we had a fight. The fight was whether to enroll her in CBSE school or a state board school. I was resolute in admitting her to a state board school. She said no, she needs to study medicine. I said, why are you worried, our Kalaignar has helped so many people get a medical seat; my father has helped so many get a medical seat. My uncle Stalin also has done that. Even when I was a minister, I helped many get a medical seat. Will I not get a seat for my own daughter? I was so determined. In 2017, my daughter finished her 12th. That’s when NEET was introduced. My daughter came to me and asked. Dad, you said that you would get me a medical seat, I studied in the state board because of you and got good marks. Now get me a medical seat. I stood teary-eyed. I stood there shocked at my inability. I can’t even buy a medical seat for my own daughter. Although she appeared for NEET, she failed to clear the exam. Because how can you crack CBSE style exam after studying state board?”
It is worth mentioning that Dayanidhi Maran’s daughter Divya Dayanidhi Maran and son Karan Dayanidhi Maran run a shoe business named K-KIX that sells customized and luxury sneakers and shoes.
He goes on to add, “I have personally experienced this, as a father. My sister Kanimozhi said, Brother, why are you suffering, there was an opportunity that if you write NEET this year (2017), you can study abroad. I filed a court case and got my daughter a seat to study medicine in Malaysia. I told her, I suffered for 5 years, this is how all these parents here would have suffered. I was able to afford it, but shouldn’t this situation change? They are not letting you study medicine.”
He then continues to complain and frighten the audience by saying, “Soon you will be parents and for everything, there will be an entrance exam. They are ensuring that we should not study.”
A girl gives a befitting reply saying, “No, NEET should not be removed. It is wrong. If someone is rich, they are able to pay and get a seat. What will poor people do? My sister also took the NEET exam and lost the chance by a few marks. They said she could be enrolled only in a private college. Only if NEET exams are there, can poor students get a medical seat.”
When the reporter asks her why only Tamil Nadu is opposing the exam, she replies smartly saying, “It is all because of money, they only want money. They will not return to power, that’s why they are trying to earn as much as they can now.”
என்ன தயா.. இந்த சின்னப்பொண்ணு இந்த வாங்கு வாங்குது..!? pic.twitter.com/D4TUUwBsSk
— Balaji M S (@MSBalajiMSB) October 25, 2023
In an attempt to deride the NEET exam, Dayanidhi Maran has unwittingly admitted that he and his family members (father, uncle, grand-uncle) have indulged in “helping” others get a medical seat. He has also acknowledged that the state board syllabus is worthless and does not add any value to someone who studies a limited set of portions. However, the with the upgradation of syllabus during the previous AIADMK regime bringing it on par with CBSE syllabus has made way for may students who have studied in government schools in the state realise their dream of a medical degree.
Several students from government schools, lower economic backgrounds, and oppressed communities have in fact cracked the NEET exam and secured medical seats over the years. Read more on this here and here.
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