Tamil Nadu: Chennai teen who led fight against NEET commits suicide

After fighting a prolonged battle against National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in Supreme Court, 17-year-old Chennai girl Anita has decided to end her struggle and allegedly committed suicide on Friday.

According to reports, Anita who was the resident of Ariyalur district, was the daughter of a daily labourer.

Inspite of being excellent in her class 12th examination Anita did not get a seat in medical colleges across Tamil Nadu.Though she had scored 1,176 marks out of 1,200 in the plus two exams under the state board, failed score good in the NEET and hence committed suicide.

Though she had obtained a seat in aeronautical engineering at the prestigious Madras Institute of Technology, secured only 86 out of 700 in the newly-introduced entrance exam. 

On August 22, the Supreme Court has directed all the medical colleges in Tamil Nadu to use National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) as the only basis for admission across the state. The verdict came after  the Centre refused to endorse Tamil Nadu's draft Ordinance seeking exemption from NEET for one year.

Also Read | NEET only basis for admission in Tamil Nadu medical colleges: SC

Union Minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has blamed the central and the state governments after such a pathetic incident took place on Friday. According to him Chief Minister K.Palaniswami and the central government should accept responsibility for her death as they had initially assured that Tamil Nadu will get one year exemption from NEET.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami has announced ex-gratia of Rs 7 lakh and a government job to compensate her family. The chief minister has also promised to take neccesary steps in order to secure students welfare in near future.