Tiruvannamalai: Even as most of the state’s socio-political class is
agitating for exemption from Neet for Tamil Nadu students, the AIADMK
legislator V. Panneerselvam of Kalasapakkam, about 15 km from here, has shunned that populist campaign and chosen a more pragmatic approach to help the students in real terms. He has announced “complete financial support for the entire course period” for all the students emerging successful in the coming Neet exam, terming the munificence his way of contributing towards the uplift of his backward Tiruvannamalai district.
“Now that Neet has come to stay due to the court order, we must do our best to equip our children to qualify for admission into good medical colleges. Our Tiruvannamalai district has been backward for long in economic development and higher education. My Kalasapakkam constituency is even worse. I have decided to work for positive change and this personal funding for my medical students is the first step towards it”, Panneerselvam told DC.
Unlike some of his party seniors and ministers getting enmeshed in unseemly controversies and corruption charges, this ruling party MLA has steered clear of such mess and has now begun the process to apportion some of his ‘honest’ income from yarn business towards helping the poor students in his constituency to pursue medical education. “I am also setting up a home for the aged and a coaching centre for IAS and other competitive exams. All the tenth class and plus-2 students scoring the first three top marks in my district will get gold chains weighing five, three and two sovereigns respectively”, said the MLA, who had passed plus-two and ITI as ‘fitter’ over two decades ago.
If all these promises and pledges are prospective, Panneerselvam has an impressive performance sheet to convince he would honour them, despite belonging to the political breed. The first-time MLA has been also visiting all the government schools on the Teachers’ Day to honour the teachers.
with gifts and words of praise. “Teachers are Gods. They sacrifice their time and energy to help shape our future generations even if they are forced to neglect their own children in the process. Yet, most often they remain unrecognised”.
Asked about his family, Panneerselvam, 45, said, “We don’t have children, but that does not sadden and discourage us. We consider all these kids in my Kalasapakkam constituency as ours.” There’s something else that’s unusual about this politico’s home: despite being the wife of a ruling party MLA, Rajeswari has remained an ‘ordinary’ data-entry-operator at the district SP’s office.
