NEET panel holds first meeting in TN

The nine-member high-level committee led by justice AK Rajan on Monday met here for the first time since its constitution to study the impact of NEET on socially backward students of the state. The committee has sought crucial data (from the government) to analyze the impact of NEET on students.

Talking to reporters after chairing the committee’s first meeting, Justice Rajan said, “We had a general discussion on how to proceed on the subject. Important data on who are affected and how Tamil medium students and state board students are affected is required.”

“We need data to analyse. We cannot merely make statements. We need solid data. We have asked (the state) to collect the data. We will analyse it and prepare a report based on the same,” he added. Asked if all members of the committee were in agreement on the issue of impact (adverse) of NEET, the retired judge said, “Everyone’s view is that NEET has impacted the students. No one can say that there is no impact. That is why a committee has been constituted by the government. Extent of impact will be studied.” On the time required to prepare the report, he said, “Govt has given us one month to table the report. We will try our best to give the report within the time.”

Denying that the committee has no intention to meet or elicit the views of students, Rajan refused to comment on the confusion among students for NEET preparation.