Title: Tragic NEET Exam Failure Leads to Double Suicide in Chennai
Date: August 14, 2023
Chennai, India – A heartbreaking incident occurred in Chennai as a young student’s failure in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) prompted him to take his own life, followed closely by his grieving father. The incident has shocked the local community and reignited the ongoing debate surrounding the controversial exam.
Jagatheeswaran, a 19-year-old aspiring photographer from Kurinji Nagar, Chromepet, Chennai, had been preparing for the NEET exam in hopes of gaining admission to a medical college. Unfortunately, this was his second attempt, and despite his determination, he did not achieve the required marks for admission.
Devastated by his failure and the success of his peers who managed to secure seats in private medical and engineering colleges, Jagatheeswaran made the tragic decision to end his life on August 12. His father, Selvasekhar, who was raising him alone following his wife’s divorce, was shocked by the news of his son’s suicide. Speaking to the media after his son’s death, Selvasekhar expressed his readiness to fight for the abolition of NEET not only in Tamil Nadu but throughout India.
The grief-stricken father, after performing the last rites of his son, also resorted to suicide in the early hours of Monday morning. The sudden loss of both father and son due to the NEET exam failure has sent shockwaves through the community.
This incident is not the first time NEET failures have led to tragic outcomes in Tamil Nadu. In 2017, a student named Anitha from Kurummoor committed suicide after failing to secure a place in medical college despite scoring well in her exams. Many more students, including Pradeepa, Subhasree, and Vignesh, have taken their lives due to the pressure and consequences of the NEET exam.
The Tamil Nadu government has been actively advocating for the abolition of the NEET exam. Last year, a bill was passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, seeking to exempt the state from the NEET exam, but it did not receive presidential approval. Following the change in the government, a new bill was passed and sent to the Governor, who also sent it back. The bill has now been sent to the President for assent once again.
Controversially, during a recent discussion program with NEET exam qualifiers and their parents at the Tamil Nadu Governor’s House, Governor R.N. Ravi made it clear that he has no intention of granting exemption from the NEET exam. His statement sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin accusing the governor of refusing to understand the detrimental impact of the NEET exam on marginalized students.
Prominent political leaders, including Thol. Thirumavalavan, Anbumani Ramadoss, and Vaiko, have called for intensified efforts to secure exemption from the NEET examination.
While this tragic incident highlights the immense pressure students face when preparing for the NEET exam, it is crucial to emphasize that suicide is never the solution. Help is available through various helplines, such as the Sneha Suicide Prevention Help Center and the State Suicide Prevention Helpline.
As the demand for exemption from the NEET exam intensifies, the debate over the impact of this standardized test on the futures and mental health of students continues.
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