After weeks of uncertainty, students and parents are finally breathing easy with the government ordinance deferring the uniform medical examination, National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) by another year. Hours after the government issued the ordinance on Friday, parent associations and students met state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to acknowledge the government’s efforts.
“It is the biggest victory for us and our children. We thank (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief) Raj Thackeray, Mr Fadnavis and all the ministers who have helped us in our journey,” said Priya Shah, a parent.
Once the ordinance is issued, students of state boards will not have to sit for NEET on July 24. Nearly 6.5 lakh students appeared for the first phase on May 1.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET. States, however, opposed the ruling saying their syllabus is different from that of the Central board, resulting in a disadvantage to their students.
On Friday, though, parents had reason to be relieved. Their children were having to study the CBSE syllabus at the last hour, after working on the state board syllabus for the MHT-CET exam. Only a few days ago, more than 300 parents had formed a human chain at Marine Drive to express their discontent.
“We are glad the pressure on our children has gone. Today, I experienced democracy in the real sense. The government has finally heard the common man’s voice,” Shreedevi Poduval, a parent, said.
Added Dr Subodh Sirur, another parent, “I feel sad for students who appeared through private medical colleges and hope the government gives them justice as well. But I am happy for all those who got justice. We have lost a huge amount of money but now there’s no fear of what this would do to our children.”
For the students, the ordinance spelt a big victory. “Finally, the search for books and sleepless nights has come to an end,” said Yogi Khatri. Added medical aspirant, Tarang Gupta, “This is one the best decisions ever taken by the government. It has saved the future of lakhs of people.”
Ritika, another student, was happy for the agonised parents. “I am happy our parents have won this battle. We had all thought our careers were destroyed.”
Resident doctors from the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors said the decision to postpone NEET is logical, given that students from various state boards cannot be expected to cover the two-year CBSE syllabus in two months. The ordinance also helps students from rural areas and those appearing for the exams in regional languages.
Despite the pressures, though, there is a consensus that NEET has its advantages. “NEET will streamline admissions. The government should plan and strategise for next year from right now,” said Dr Suranjana Basak, first year resident doctor in internal medicine at DY Patil College, Navi Mumbai.
Dr Sagar Mundada, state president, MARD, said NEET will curtail the approximately Rs 20,000-crore black market. “Private and deemed medical college admissions, which are the hub of black money and donations for seats, have been included in NEET. Meritorious students will become doctors to serve society and not to recover their investment made during admissions.”
The writer is an intern at The Hindu
Happy our parents have won this battle. We thought our careers were destroyed
RitikaA student
