THE STATE government has welcomed the decision of President Pranab Mukherjee to give his assent to the ordinance on uniform medical examination NEET. As per the order, the state boards can skip the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for a year. The ordinance is aimed at ‘partially’ overturning the Supreme Court order. State Education minister Vinod Tawde welcomed the decision and said that the students from the state have got some respite. “The government having followed up this issue vociferously has been able to get some respite for students. This is a welcome move,” said the minister on the issue. Read | NEET ordinance gets President Pranab’s assent ahead of his China visit The minister has tweeted that the President signing the ordinance gives hope to students of Maharashtra and he has thanked health minister JP Nadda for his aid. Earlier last week, he had approached the Centre with the proposal that the students seeking admission to medical and dental courses in the state this year should be exempted from taking the NEET. He had met Union Health Minister JP Nadda with 22 other state health ministers proposing that the Centre should review the SC verdict that has made NEET compulsory for medical aspirants. While Director Medical Education and Research Dr Pravin Shingare too welcomed the President’s signature on NEET ordinance. However, based upon lawyers advice, he said they will also file a caveat in SC. “We hope the Apex court does not stay the ordinance otherwise there will be confusion again,’’ he said. Students have given mixed reactions to the NEET ordinance. Meghna Bhandalkar, student of Vidya Pratishthan, Baramati is very happy and relieved about the NEET ordinance been passed. Meghna, who took one-year gap to prepare for MHT-CET this year, said, “I am so relieved now. Preparing for NEET was very difficult due to the difference in both the CBSE and HSC syllabus.” Meghna appeared for NEET Phase-I. Although the paper went good, she didn’t have any hope for good result. “It is a very good decision.”, she added. While Saurabh Chaudhari, student of Jaihind College, Dhule had taken one-year gap to prepare for MHT-CET but is not happy with the NEET ordinance being passed. He said, “There is a lot of competition for MHT-CET examination for Maharashtra Board students now. If I don’t score good marks in MHT-CET, I will have to appear for NEET phase-II.” Jai Jabade, an aspiring MBBS student said, “I will wait for my MHT-CET results first and then decide if I will give the NEET Phase-II in July. Since government colleges will be available through MHT-CET the cut-off will obviously increase this year for admissions.” Shruti Gaikwad, a student of Fergusson College, said, “I am giving NEET Phase-II as a back up and merely increasing my chances.”
