Health Department launches counselling for nearly 60,000 students who didn’t clear NEET

Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, at the 104-helpline centre on DMS campus on Monday, launched a stress-management counselling service for T.N. students who appeared for NEET.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU

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The Health Department on Monday launched a counselling initiative for students who did not clear the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the results for which was released on June 14.

In the first phase, the department plans to reach out to 59,534 students who did not clear the examination.

Shortly after launching the initiative, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian told reporters that the department had been conducting counselling for those who did not pass the examination as well as for those who cleared NEET but did not secure medical admissionsin the past few years.

The counselling initiative is being carried out through the State’s Health helpline 104 and Tele MANAS 14416.

Apart from psychological counselling, students are also given information on the academic opportunities available.

“This year, 1,35,715 students appeared for NEET from Tamil Nadu. Of this, 76,181 students qualified,” he said.

In the first phase, 80 counsellors will work in two shifts to reach out to students and counsel them.

The Minister said students would be encouraged to continue studying. Parents would also be counselled to control their emotions, and advised not to create fear or panic in children, he added.

The Minister said that while 76,181 students had qualified in NEET, the State had a total of 11,850 undergraduate medical seats in 75 government and private medical colleges as well as deemed institutions.

Many opportunities

There are many other opportunities such as dental, nursing, and paramedical courses that could employ as many as 20,000 students. There is veterinary science and Indian medicine as well, he adds.

In the next phase, counselling would be provided for students who cleared the test with low marks. They would be observed for issues such as sleeplessness, loss of appetite, suicidal thoughts, and uncontrollable anger, he further said.

Applications received

Till Sunday, nearly 32,000 applications were received for MBBS/BDS courses. Once the Directorate General of Health Services releases the counselling schedule, the State will begin the counselling for admission to medical and dental courses.

Asked about a student in Coimbatore who scored well in NEET but found her name missing from the official rank list, Mr. Subramanian said the Health Secretary would take up the issue with officials of the National Testing Agency.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, TeleMANAS 14416 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline – 044-24640050)