More Tamil Nadu cities included for NEET says Centre, as state renews plea to scrap the exam

More Tamil Nadu cities included for NEET says Centre, as state renews plea to scrap the exam

The board exams for class XII were cancelled owing to the pandemic and Tamil Nadu had announced the criteria for admitting students to colleges.

Published: 15th July 2021 08:00 PM 

By PTI

NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian on Thursday demanded that the Centre scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and allow the state to fill admissions to all professional courses on the basis of class XII marks.

The board exams for class XII were cancelled owing to the pandemic and Tamil Nadu had announced the criteria for admitting students to colleges.

It urged the central government to cancel all national level entrance exams like NEET, as it did with the CBSE board exams.

During his visit to the national capital, Subramanian called on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and discussed with him several issues pertaining to Tamil Nadu, including scrapping of NEET.

"During the discussion, we explained about the recommendation of the retired judge A K Rajan committee while putting forth our demands. The union minister assured to examine the demands," Subramanian later told reporters.

The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu last month constituted the panel, headed by retired high court judge AK Rajan, to analyse if NEET had an adverse impact on students from backward classes and if so, the committee would recommend remedial measures to the government.

It had submitted its report on Wednesday, with Justice Rajan saying majority of representations don't want NEET.

Explaining to Subrmanian about the background of the Supreme Court's directions on conducting NEET, Pradhan told him that for the convenience of Tamil Nadu students, four new cities--Chengalpattu, Virudhunagar, Dindigul and Tiruppur have been added for conducting NEET.

"Also, shared with him that to cater to regional aspirations, number of languages being offered this year have been increased to 13 from 11 with the addition of Malayalam and Punjabi. The exam is already being conducted in Tamil language," Pradhan tweeted after the meeting.

Subramanian, referring to Pradhan's explanation, said "the very issue is about conducting NEET and also the syllabus and not about the examination centres. We had said that NEET saw the suicides of 13 students (in TN)". Pradhan had understood Tamil Nadu's concerns as his own state Odisha encountered problems due to NEET," Subramanian added.

Tamil Nadu was in favour of cancelling NEET and all national level entrance exams as conducting such tests during the pandemic was detrimental to the health and well-being of the students.

"Tamil Nadu government may be allowed to fill all professional seats including MBBSDSAYUSH courses on the basis of class XII marks alone," a memorandum submitted to Pradhan by Subramanian said.

It further stated it has been the "consistent and considered opinion" of Tamil Nadu that class XII marks alone be the basis for higher education admission and "conducting NEET deprives opportunities for rural students, majority of whom study in their mother tongue and lack resourcesaccess to coaching institutions."

Abolition of NEET is an election promise of the M K Stalin-led DMK which won the April 6 Assembly polls in the state.

Subramanian, who later called on Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said he had demanded 12 crore doses of covid vaccine to cover about six crore beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu.

The state had so far obtained about 1.70 crore covid vaccines.

"We told the union minister that we require 12 crore doses of the vaccines to provide two doses to six crore people. He has assured to fulfill the state's requirement," Subramanian said.

During the meeting, he presented 13 demands to the union health minister, including establishing a new AIIMS at Coimbatore besides expediting the Madurai AIIMS project.

The Union Minister had told him that he would look into the matter.

Also, he responded positively to the state's request for drugs to treat Black Fungus and assured to release Rs 800 crore to help the state government to launch appropriate measures to prevent the third Coronavirus wave.

"Health Minister, Government of Tamil Nadu, M Subramanian met me to discuss various issues of Tamil Nadu, including NEET (UG) 2021. Explained to him the background of the Supreme Court's directions in this regard."

"Also, shared with him that to cater to regional aspirations, the number of languages being offered this year have been increased, with the addition of Malayalam and Punjabi. The exam is already being conducted in the Tamil language," Pradhan said in a series of tweets.

The number of cities has increased to 18 from 14 last year.

The number of examination centres will also be increased, he said.

The meeting comes a day after a high-level committee, led by retired Madras High Court judge A K Rajan, handed over its report to Chief Minister M K Stalin on the impact of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in Tamil Nadu and related issues due to its implementation.

A petition in the Madras High Court, seeking to quash the Tamil Nadu government notification, constituting the high-level committee on NEET, has been dismissed by the court.

Most parties, including the ruling DMK and main opposition AIADMK, are on the same page on NEET and have been demanding that the test be scrapped, arguing that it went against social justice, rural and government school students.

The NEET-UG which was earlier scheduled on August 1 has now been postponed to September 12.

Resistance remains, but it’s a NEET solution this year

Resistance remains, but it’s a NEET solution this year

Students glad their preparation won’t go in vain after Class 12 exams were scrapped

Published: 16th July 2021 04:55 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Though NEET is being vehemently opposed in the State, students are relieved at the announcement that the exam will be held on September 12 this year.

“We were getting worried as no date was announced. We didn’t know how medical colleges would admit students if the exam was not conducted this year. We have been preparing for it for the past two years,” said V Saraswathy, a NEET aspirant.

Not all students were happy that their Class 12 exams were cancelled and they would be evaluated based on their Class 10 and 11 marks and Class 12 pre-board exams. Many were worried the evaluation formulae decided would create problems in getting admission into professional courses.

Even those who oppose NEET are of the view that cancelling the exam this year would make things worse for students. “The Class 12 exams were cancelled, and the devised evaluation system does not do justice to those who improved their performance in Class 12. If even NEET is cancelled, it would become chaotic and would only add to the students’ burden,” said Parathasarathy D, father of a NEET aspirant.

Staff at coaching centres also feel NEET would be favourable for students this year as the National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced changes in the exam pattern for NEET-UGUG 2021. The changes were made to rationalise school education boards’ decision to reduce the syllabus this year. In NEET (UG)-2021, each subject will be divided into two sections.

Section A will have 35 questions and Section B will have 15. In Section B, students will only have to attempt 10 questions. The total number of questions remains the same, and all questions will be in the multiple-choice format. “The new pattern will favour average students and they can easily score full marks,” said Sharath Kumar, a faculty at a NEET coaching centre.

TN woman kills potential rapist, let off under Section 100 of IPC

TN woman kills potential rapist, let off under Section 100 of IPC

A 23-year-old woman who allegedly killed a man to protect herself from an attempted rape was let go by the police on grounds that she had acted only in self-defence.

Published: 16th July 2021 05:01 AM 

By Sahaya Novinston Lobo

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A 23-year-old woman who allegedly killed a man to protect herself from an attempted rape was let go by the police on grounds that she had acted only in self-defence. The police said the woman, a mother of two, was struggling to free herself from the clutches of the deceased when she pushed him.

The man, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, is believed to have hit his head against a rock and died on the spot. After preliminary inquiries pointed that the woman had only acted in her self-defence, Tiruvallur police invoked section 100 of the IPC (right of private defence) and released her on station bail.

According to the police, the locals reported a man found dead in a fish farm near Minjur on Wednesday afternoon. His body was retrieved and sent to the Tiruvallur Government Hospital for post-mortem. A case of suspicious death under Section 174 of CrPC was registered. From his appearances, police suggested that he could be a migrant worker. On investigation, it was found that the man had been stalking one Lakshmi (name changed).

Woman kills rapist in self-defence

The woman lived with her husband and two children in a small room-like structure in the property and the family was employed at the fish farm. A senior police officer said,

“On Wednesday, the man sneaked into the farm, allegedly gagged the woman and dragged her to a secluded place in the farm where he tried to force himself on her.” As the man held her from behind, Lakshmi pushed him, following which he slipped, and hit a rock on the ground. The ground was slippery from rain the previous night.

When the man fainted, Lakshmi dragged the body and dumped it on the roadside, after which she returned to the farm and informed her husband. He and other workers rushed to see the man only to find villagers standing around the man lying unconscious.

On information, the Minjur police rushed to the spot, and alerted the ambulance. He was confirmed dead due to concussion by the para-medic staff. Inspector Vadivel Murugan said, “We inquired about the suspect in the neighbourhood and they had spotted him for a couple of days in the area. But the residents confirmed that he was not employed in any company there.”

Earlier in January this year, police had invoked the same section to allow a 19-year-old woman to walk free after she killed a man who attempted to rape her.

CBSE to open moderation portal today

CBSE to open moderation portal today

16.07.2021 

The CBSE will be opening the moderation portal for the tabulation of Class XII results on Friday. It has instructed the schools to stick to the schedule provided as the board will have to declare the results by July 31. The schools have also been instructed to ensure there is no bunching of total marks in the range of 95 and above. “To aid the schools, CBSE has provided marks, including distribution of the marks, based on the best performance of the previous three years, which will be taken as reference for the purpose of moderation. Schools are directed to follow the reference distribution while moderating mass,” said the circular sent to the school heads. TNN

Intern doctors go on strike over unpaid Covid allowance

Intern doctors go on strike over unpaid Covid allowance

TNN & Agencies

Ahmedabad:16.07.2021 

More than 400 junior doctors, interns at selffinanced Gujarat Medical Education & Research Society (GMERS) medical colleges in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Valsad, went on strike on Thursday over their ‘Covid allowance’ not being paid. The allowance was promised by the state government during the second Covid wave when several representations over pay disparity with other states were made.

The internship is mandatory for students who start their own practice after completing their bond period. “The intern doctors were promised Rs 5,000 monthly Covid allowance over their stipend from March to June. While interns of the government-run colleges have received the allowance promised by the government, intern doctors at GMERS-run colleges have not been given the sum,” said a doctor on condition of anonymity. “There was no other way for us but to declare a strike for justice.” Meanwhile, Gujarat deputy CM Nitin Patel, who also handles the health portfolio, promised that the issue would be resolved soon. Patel asked the striking doctors to join work and “show some concern for patients”.

“Internship is a must for any medical student. These students must be thankful to the government for arranging their internship at government hospitals and giving them allowances. It’s the government which showed a big heart, not the intern doctors,” Patel said on Thursday.

“They have to complete their internship even if we do not give any allowance, because it’s a must to become a doctor. At private medical colleges, students have to pay from their pockets to do an internship. These intern doctors should show some concern for patients,” said the health minister.

The hospital administration at Sola and Gandhinagar Civil hospitals claimed that services were not affected. “Talks with the doctors are on. Meanwhile, staff has been ramped up so patients don’t face any issue,” said a senior doctor at Sola Civil Hospital.

Junior doctors protest to press their demand at GMERS Medical College in the Sola area of the city on Thursday

With Times NIE, win a ticket to dream course

With Times NIE, win a ticket to dream course

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.07.2021 

As a part of the ongoing virtual career guidance webinar for the students who have completed class XII in 2021, Times NIE, in association with Bharath University, is conducting a series of online aptitude tests for the participating students on July 18. The test - ‘BEAT IT’ (Bharath Engineering Aptitude Test, with emphasis on Information Technology), will provide students with an exclusive opportunity to get admission into Bharath University.

The top scorers will also get a chance to win a scholarship for their dream course. The 60-minute-long test will comprise questions on physics, chemistry, maths and computer science. No additional admission fees and test charges will be involved in this. Students taking the test will also get rewards. To register, visit https://docs.google.com/forms d/19sXJ19Ru5 ytJRPW_ 6OGG25Y7xZa-OhFp9v5OK_GwvAE/edit

NEET to be held in more TN districts

NEET to be held in more TN districts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.07.2021 

National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 will be aditionally held in Chengalpet, Virudhunagar, Dindigul and Tirupur districts, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said. NEET this year will be held in 18 TN districts against 14 in 2020.

Health minister Ma Subramanian, who met Pradhan in Delhi on Thursday seeking exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu, said the Centre promised to consider TN’s demand. “We presented all problems including disadvantages for students in rural areas, the difference between CBSE and state board syllabus and people’s sentiments against the test. We also handed over the recommendation of the AK Rajan committee.”

The state has urged the Centre to cancel all national level exams like NEET as it did with CBSE boards. During his maiden visit to Delhi, Subramanian called on Pradhan and health minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

In June, TN constituted a committee headed by retired high court judge AK Rajan to study the impact of NEET. After submitting the report on Wednesday, Justice Rajan said most people did not want NEET. “We also told him that at least 13 students who could not get MBBS seats ended their lives. The education minister understood our concerns. He told us there were similar concerns in his state Odisha as well. The state will make all efforts to get exemptions from the entrance,” he said.

Minutes after the meeting, Pradhan tweeted that he had told Subramanian the Centre will add more NEET centres in Tamil Nadu. " Also, shared with him that to cater to regional aspirations, the number of languages being offered this year have been increased to 11 from 13 with the addition of Malayalam and Punjabi. The exam is already being conducted in the Tamil language,” he tweeted.