Chennai – A 21-year-old medical aspirant, Devadharshini, allegedly died by suicide at her home in Chennai, highlighting the immense pressure faced by students preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). According to reports, she had been attempting to clear NEET for four years but struggled to secure a seat, leading to severe stress and anxiety.
Her family stated that she was a bright student, but the fear of failure and not meeting expectations took a toll on her mental health. Her father, a bakery owner, had reassured her, but the burden of the highly competitive exam proved overwhelming.
This incident has once again fueled political debates in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK has long opposed NEET, arguing that it disproportionately benefits students from privileged backgrounds and disadvantages state board students. The party has demanded an exemption for Tamil Nadu, but the central government has yet to implement it. AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticized the DMK for failing to fulfill its promise of abolishing NEET in the state.
Over the past eight years, at least 20 NEET aspirants in Tamil Nadu have taken their own lives, raising concerns about the mental health impact of high-stakes exams. The incident has sparked public outrage, with calls for reforms in the admission process and better psychological support for students.
