Fearing NEET Exam Results, 21-Year-Old Tamil Nadu Student Takes Her Life
In another horrific case of a student succumbing to exam pressure, a 21-year-old NEET aspirant (Rajalakshmi) committed suicide on Thursday (1st September 2022). Rajalakshmi had attempted the NEET exam for the third time this year and allegedly committed suicide after analyzing the official answer key which was made public recently. Rajalakshmi had been preparing for the exam to fulfill her fathers dream of becoming a doctor. Her mother is a housewife, and her father works as a laborer. Rajalakshmi’s body was found in her room on Thursday afternoon, she had taken her life by hanging herself.
Tamil Nadu has seen several cases of students committing suicide this year. The Tenkasi District Collector stated, "Police say she took her life due to fear of NEET exam result. An autopsy will be conducted shortly on the woman’s body. We are investigating in this regard.”
These cases should be a wake-up call for the authorities to make amends to the examination system in the country. An increasing number of students have been voicing their concerns about exam stress on social media. The NTA or the center is yet to provide any concrete resolution / long term plan on the same.
The NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) is a national level entrance exam for admission into MBBS and BDS courses in India. The exam is conducted by the NTA and had more than 18 lac applicants this year, making it one of the largest and most competitive exams in the world.