Dalit student who moved SC against NEET commits suicide

DH

Chennai, 02 Sep 2017: A medical aspirant from Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu, who fought a legal battle against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, has reportedly committed suicide.

 

Dejected that she could not secure a medical seat, Anitha took the extreme step by hanging herself at her house at Kulumur taluk in Ariyalur district.

 

The test, conducted by the Central Board for Secondary Education, determines admissions to medical and dental colleges across India.

 

The 18-year-old student, who secured 1,176 out of 1,200 marks in her state board Plus-2 exams, had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET.

 

Having a cut off mark of 196.8, Anitha secured only 86 marks in the NEET exam. The NEET score could not fetch her a medical seat, which was her long-cherished dream.

 

Anitha, a poor Dalit student, pleaded herself as one of the respondents along with many students in the apex court against the implementation of NEET in Tamil Nadu.

 

Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties, including DMK working president M K Stalin, blamed the state government for Anitha’s suicide, saying the tragedy occurred as it failed to secure an exemption from NEET.