The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association has planned to hold a token fast on Saturday on the Madras Medical College premises in support of their demand that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for medical admissions should not be made mandatory.
Association Secretary P. Balakrishnan said, “We want a special ordinance to prevent the NEET from being made compulsory in the State. The existing system of admitting students based on Plus 2 marks should continue.”
The association cites the Tamil Nadu Admission in Professional Educational Institutions Act that permits the State to continue its admission process.
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“Since then, almost 52 to 61 per cent of the students who have been admitted to medical colleges are from rural areas. This has equalised the disparity caused by coaching centres earlier,” Dr. Balakrishnan explained.
On Saturday, students and parents who are affected by the Supreme Court ruling on NEET would also be participating in the fast.
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Meanwhile, around 40 students and their parents continued their protest for the second day on Thursday, under the aegis of Tamil Nadu Most Backward Classes Welfare Federation.
The Federation has threatened to intensify its agitation by protesting outside Central government offices and preventing train movement.