Tamil Nadu will continue its efforts to get NEET exemption, says Govi. Chezhiaan

Tamil Nadu Minister Govi Chezhiaan continues efforts to exempt state from NEET, allocates ₹8,250 crore for higher education.

Tamil Nadu Minister for Higher Education Govi Chezhiaan on Tuesday said the State would continue its efforts to get exemption from the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions.

Speaking to reporters at Manapparai after participating in the Makkaludan Mudalvar scheme camp, Mr.Chezhiaan said even after the State government passed a resolution in the Assembly, urging the Union government to give its assent to the Bill for exempting the State from NEET, the Centre had not budged on the issue. It was adamant in implementing NEET in the State.

Tamil Nadu was leading in medical education in the country. The entrance examination was introduced to benefit the students from North India in gaining admissions in the medical colleges, which were started and run by the State government in Tamil Nadu. It should be done away with.

The State had also waged a struggle by involving the people and through legal means. It would continue its legal efforts seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu and other like minded States from the ambit of NEET, he said.

The Minister said the State government had allotted ₹8,250 crore for higher education in the 2024-25 Budget. The State was in the forefront in higher education in the country. It was because of the seeds sown by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in primary education and the continuation of his efforts by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

According to him, a recent study revealed Tamil Nadu was leading in having a large number of Ph.D degree holders and the research scholars. It had been planned to increase the student intake in colleges. Introducing new courses, starting new colleges and constructing new hostels for women were among the proposed plans. The allocation for higher education in the 2025-26 State Budget would be commensurate with the needs of the department.

The State government had disposed of 80% of the petitions received from the public in the first two phases of the Makkaludan Mudalvar scheme. The phase-III of the project had been launched to receive petitions and listen to the grievances of the people at their doorstep. Priority was being given to take decisions on the petitions as early as possible. The scheme was serving the people of all walks of life mainly the people below the poverty line, workers and other poor, he said.