EducationContemporary Tamil Nadu

Death of S. Anitha and the NEET protests

· Ariyalur

Dalit student S. Anitha, who had challenged NEET in the Supreme Court, died by suicide, triggering protests across the state.

S. Anitha, a Dalit student from Ariyalur district who had scored very high marks in her Class 12 examination, could not secure a medical seat after admissions moved to the national NEET entrance test. She had been a petitioner in the Supreme Court against NEET. Her death on 1 September 2017 led to student and political protests across Tamil Nadu. NEET became a lasting issue in the state's politics and its relations with the Union government.

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