CHENNAI: In what could be much-needed respite to the State government, Union commerce and industries minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre is willing to consider TN plea for Neet (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exemption for a year for government medical colleges alone but ruled out permanent exclusion from the national level eligibility test.
As soon as the minister conveyed the Centre’s willingness to cooperate if the state brought out an ordinance seeking exemption for this year, the TN government dispatched a delegation of three secretaries including the health secretary to the national capital with the draft ordinance.
Tamil Nadu, which had initially sought permanent exemption from Neet by passing two Bills in the Assembly, later made efforts to be out of its ambit for at least a year or two. And with the Centre now giving the nod, health minister Dr C. Vijayabaskar informed that admissions would be held on the lines held last year, and assured that in future the students would be well prepared for NEET and the syllabus too would be oriented likewise.
“The Centre is ready to cooperate in case the Tamil Nadu government comes up with an ordinance seeking exemption from Neet for government medical colleges only for a year in order to help rural students,” Ms Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Admitting that Tamil Nadu’s situation was unique, she told reporters here on Sunday that though students who had qualified in Neet included those from the state board, students from rural Tamil Nadu were largely out of it.
Except the government colleges, Neet was already implemented in other institutes, the Union minister said and ruled out any further exemptions.
Govt confident of completing admissions by month-end
Responding to Nirmala Sitharaman’s comments after consulting Chief Minister Palaniswami, health minister Dr Vijayabaskar, said an ordinance in this regard would be submitted to the Centre on Monday morning. He thanked the Union Minister for making the announcement which would delight students.
Vijayabaskar said care is being taken to ensure that the proposed move does not face any legal hurdles and that the government is confident of completing the admission process ahead of the month-end deadline.
The development comes after Palaniswami, state ministers and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M. Thambidurai had several meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers over Neet.
“As far as private colleges and deemed universities are concerned, Tamil Nadu is already admitting students as per Neet. The problem comes only in terms of government college admissions and also in terms of seats surrendered by private colleges to government colleges. There is difficulty in rural students getting admissions. That is our understanding based on the interaction with the State,” Nirmala said and asked the State to specify in the Ordinance that the exemption for one year is being provided to help rural students get admission in government colleges.
In Cuddalore, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said the Centre was inclined to accept the Neet representation from TN.
Why no permanent exemption, asks Stalin
Lashing out at the Centre and State governments on the latest development, DMK working president and Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly M.K. Stalin, accused them of “staging a drama” on the issue and “betraying” the students. He said the Palaniswami government should step down accepting its defeat on the Neet issue. He demanded that the state government disclose the details of the various meetings held with the Centre on the subject and also on the assurance given by the Centre. If the BJP-led government was really interested in the welfare of TN students it should have obtained the Presidential assent for the two Bills for permanent exemption from Neet.
Meanwhile, Actor Kamal Haasan in a tweet asked the state government to “talk immediately” (with the Centre) on the Neet issue since the matter involved the future of students.
