Chennai, August 16: Protests against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) are ongoing in Chennai, despite a new resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Demonstrators argue that the interests of underprivileged and marginalized students cannot be protected without completely abolishing NEET.
Separate movements are taking place in Thiruvottiyur and Egmore.
In Thiruvottiyur, former Indian Revenue Service officer Balamoorthy has been on an indefinite hunger strike since July 27. As of Sunday, his fast has entered its 20th day. He stated that he will not end his strike until his demands are met.
Balamoorthy is advocating for an exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu. He has also made two additional demands, including the resignation of Chief Justice Suryakant over a controversial comment related to cockroaches, and the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah concerning the alleged attack on students in Delhi.
Concerns are growing over Balamoorthy’s health as his hunger strike continues.
Manirathnam, brother of the late medical candidate S. Anita, visited him and urged the state government to ensure his health is monitored and to provide a designated space for the protests.
Due to the lack of a designated space, Balamoorthy is continuing his protest from his home.
Manirathnam and members of the Anti-NEET Federation of Tamil Nadu had previously ended their 12-day hunger strike after the Assembly passed the resolution, claiming that the government had fulfilled one of their demands.
This organization has also called for education to be reinstated in the state list, allowing the state to determine its own admission policies, alongside a complete abolition of NEET.
Another protest has been ongoing for the past 24 days at the Thayagam Complex on Rukmani Lakshmipathi Road in Egmore.
Organized by the OG Tamizha group, this demonstration runs daily from 3 PM to 9 PM, featuring participation from students, educators, and social activists. The group is rallying public support under the slogan “Let’s Celebrate Resistance” through music, drama, dance, and other art forms.
Educators Prince Gajendrababu and Manirathnam have also expressed their support for the protesters. They assert that the only solution to the issue is a complete ban on NEET. They have appealed to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to approve the Assembly’s resolution.
Previously, a bill passed by the then DMK government in 2024 to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET did not receive presidential approval.
Presenting the latest resolution, Health and Medical Education Minister K.G. Arunraj stated that NEET benefits students who can afford expensive coaching, diverting attention from school education curricula. He noted that this exam has reduced opportunities for medical education for students from rural areas, the poor, and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, undermining the principle of equality in the medical admission process.
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