NEET Death: Soundharya T, a student from Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district, allegedly took her own life over the fear of failing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
NEET Death: Another NEET-related suicide death was reported in Tamil Nadu – the third in the past five days – as a 17-year-old student, Soundharya T committed suicide on Wednesday, September 15, three days after giving NEET. Soundharya, a student from Thalaiyarampattu village near Katpadi in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district, is reported to have committed suicide for fear of failing the National Entrance Eligibility Test (NEET) held on Sunday, September 12.
Soundharya, a student at Thottapalayam School, had obtained 510 points out of a total of 600 in her class 12 and passed the NEET from Kingston College of Engineering. She was reported to have told her parents that she was afraid of failing at NEET. She reportedly told her family and friends that she did not do well on the exam.
There are reports that Soundharya told her mother when she returned home after the exam that the test had been difficult and that she had not been able to perform well. She also seemed disturbed since the day of the exam. On the morning of September 15, her parents had gone to work as usual and when her mother returned, she found Soundharya dead in her room. His body was sent for an autopsy at Vellore Government Hospital and Medical College. An investigation is currently underway by the Katpadi DSP and the revenue inspector. Soundharya’s parents are daily wage earners belonging to the Mudhaliyar caste.
This is the third incident in the past five days where a student from Tamil Nadu committed suicide because of NEET. 17-year-old Kanimozhi, a student from Sathampadi village in Ariyalur district, took her own life on Monday. On Saturday, September 11, a day before NEET, 20-year-old Salem Dhanush committed suicide for fear of failing the exam for the third time.
Two days ago, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a bill against NEETs, aimed at allowing admission to undergraduate medical courses not through centralized medical examination, but on the basis of grades obtained in the qualification exam, through standardization methods. The statement of purposes and reasons for the bill indicated that the panel set up by the government of Tamil Nadu had shown that those most affected by this review come from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
The social groups most affected were Tamil-speaking students from rural areas, students in public schools, those with parental income below Rs 2.5 lakh per year, and socially depressed and disadvantaged groups such as classrooms. the most backward, the scheduled classes. Listed castes and tribes, says the bill.
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If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organizations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.
Tamil Nadu
State health department’s suicide helpline: 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre – 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)
Andhra Pradesh
Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930
Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584
Karnataka
Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222
Kerala
Maithri: 0484 2540530
Chaithram: 0484 2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Telangana
State government’s suicide prevention (tollfree): 104
Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200
SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 amd and 7 pm)
Aasara offers support to inidviduals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.
24×7 Helpline: 9820466726
