Political Parties Unite for NEET

Cutting across party lines, the political parties in India voiced for Doctors' Association for Social Equality's (DASE) demand to do away with NEET and exit exam for medical graduates.

Communist Party of India leader D. Pandian, State secretary R. Mutharasan and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Su. Thirunavukkarasar, Dravidar Kazhagam general secretary Kali Poonkundran participated in a seminar organised by the association on Sunday.

Pandian announced that the issue of NEET and exit exam would be presented in Parliament as it is related to the entire country. He released the seminar's proceedings which were received by Kali Poonkundran.

Thirunavukkarasar emphasised that the Centre should follow the example set by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who ensured that all people received free education and healthcare.

The resolutions passed during the event included a demand that the Centre should give up the plan to hold the National Licentiate Medical Examination (exit exam); the Centre should amend its NEET Act to exempt PG and UG medical students in Tamil Nadu from NEET; and the State government should continue its legal battle at the Supreme Court against the imposition of NEET.

In order to expand admissions in the states and clear out the lack of seats, the association sought that the seats under government quota in UG and super specialty medical courses should be allotted to students from the State. For the allocation to be credible, the State should follow the example of Andhra Pradesh, which does not surrender any seats to the All India Quota, DASE jotted.

The Centre should not dismantle the Medical Council of India and not encroach on the State's rights in education, DASE strongly put forth.