TN Counselling: Day 1 draws to close on a happy note as government students under 7.5% quota excel

Like several others, S Archana, daughter of M Sakthivel and S Revathi, had been burning the midnight oil to crack the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET), for the past two years. The family's joy knew no bounds when Archana received her seat allotment order from Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday.

Sakthivel works as a load man and a fruit seller at Nagaiah Kottai in Dindigul. The family, like other daily wagers, struggled hard every day to make their ends meet. To afford medical education for their children was a dream very distant to them. It was at this point that the State government introduced the 7.5 per cent reservation in medical courses for government school students, who cleared the NEET.

"I never thought I could afford a good education for my daughter, forget seeing the doorstep of a government medical college. I don't know how happy I am today to know that she will one day, become a doctor," said Sakthivel, with tears of joy trickling down his cheeks. All of the 18 students who were allotted seats under the quota on Wednesday, were NEET repeaters.

Revathi, Archana's mother, is on the seventh heaven knowing that she is a proud mother of a to-be doctor. A daily wager who goes for 100 days of work, Revathi said: "My daughter had attempted the NEET last year, but couldn't get a medical seat. This year she secured 262 marks in NEET and got the seat only because of the quota." She had scored 389 marks in class 12 last year.

Archana received an SMS regarding the counselling schedule on Monday night and the family quickly packed their bags to leave for Chennai. They reached here the following night and with no place to go and unable to afford a lodging, spent the chilly night outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here. "We used public toilets. But, all that doesn't matter now. We are very happy she got a seat at the Tiruchy Government Medical College, and are excited to return to our village," said Revathi.

Many of those who attempted NEET for the first time, too were happy about the allotment and felt lucky about not having to repeat the exam, thanks to the quota. RS Meghaa, from Tiruchengode in Namakkal, had scored 366 marks in NEET and bagged a seat in the Coimbatore Government Medical College. She broke down as she thanked the Chief Minister. Her father, R Sadasivam, who is a TV mechanic, too had no words to express their gratitude.

Another student, S Harikrishna, a first attempter who hails from Poovalur in Tiruchy said, he was benefitted by the freebies the government provided. "I secured 423 marks in NEET. The free laptop, cycle, books and also free coaching helped me secure it," said Harikrishna, who was allotted the Stanley Madras Medical College in Chennai. He had scored 515 in class 12 and had taken the government's free online NEET course. His father works in a provision store in Tiruchy.