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title:
Regarding abolishing the common entrance test for medical admissions in
Tamil Nadu.
DR. P.
VENUGOPAL (TIRUVALLUR): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for having allowed
me to raise this very important matter concerning the students’ community in
Tamil Nadu.
The
Tamil Nadu Government has been opposing the move of the Centre to introduce the
National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. In this
regard, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had written several letters to the
Prime Minister of India inviting his attention to the serious impact that it
would cause.
In
2013, the Supreme Court quashed the notification issued by the Medical Council
of India and the Dental Council of India for introducing this test for medical
admissions. The judgement upheld the valid objections raised by our hon. Chief
Minister. But, the Centre has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court.
Through
the letter written to the hon. Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
had expressed strong objection to this move of the Centre as it will infringe
upon the autonomy of the State and its right to regulate the admission policies
to medical education in Tamil Nadu.
Madam
Speaker, as of now, we have a very vibrant student-friendly and
patient-friendly medical admission policy in Tamil Nadu. Our Government has
taken a number of steps to ensure that there is a level playing field for
students from rural areas who are deprived. In many common examinations for
professional course admissions, the rural students are at a disadvantage
because they lack basic resources like coaching in training institutes, study
materials etc. Considering all this, the Government of Tamil Nadu had abolished
the entrance exam for under-graduate courses.
For
the post-graduate medical courses, the Government of Tamil Nadu has a policy of
giving preference to those who served in rural areas, and hilly and tribal
areas. This move has significantly improved the availability of doctors at
remote locations and strengthened the quality of primary health care.
So,
when we have such a vibrant policy, there is no need to have a common entrance
test for medical admissions. The Tamil Nadu Government, under the efficient
leadership of Amma, strongly objects to the move of the Centre to nullify the
judgement of the Supreme Court by filling a review petition.
Hence,
I request the Central Government to ensure that the said review petition filed
before the Supreme Court is withdrawn for the sake of giving a level playing
field to the students and also to ensure that it does not interfere with the
State’s authority.
Thank
you.
HON. SPEAKER:
Dr. K. Kamaraj is permitted to associate with the issue raised by Dr. P.
Venugopal.
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