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2021-04-02T06:01:01Z

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{{Indian name|Anitha|Shanmugam}}
{{Infobox person
| name = S. Anitha
| image = Anitha_before_Supreme_Court.jpg
|caption = Anitha standing in front of the Supreme Court of India
| birth_name = Shanmugam Anitha
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|2000|03|5}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2017|09|1|2000|03|5}}
| death_place = Kuzhumur village, [[Ariyalur district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| death_cause = [[Suicide]]
| awards =
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
}}

'''Shanmugam Anitha''' (5 March 2000 – 1 September 2017), was a student from [[Tamil Nadu]], India. She scored 1176/1200 in the 12th standard exams in the Tamil Nadu State Board. This would have secured her a medical seat, if only the State Board marks had been considered for admission. In [[National Eligibility and Entrance Test|NEET-UG 2017]], Anitha secured 12.33 percentile while she scored 86/720 marks.<ref>{{cite web | title = Dalit girl S. Anitha, who filed case against NEET, commits suicide - … |publisher=[[The Hindu]]| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dalit-girl-who-filed-case-against-neet-commits-suicide/article19601636.ece | date = 2017-09-17 | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20170917141944/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dalit-girl-who-filed-case-against-neet-commits-suicide/article19601636.ece | archivedate = 2017-09-17 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The minimum eligibility cut-off for making it into the merit list was 40 percentile for students in the reserved category.<ref>{{cite web
|title = NEET (UG) 2017 FAQ, see Questions 30, 61, 70
|url = https://cbseneet.nic.in/cbseneet/faq.aspx
|date = 2017-09-16
|archiveurl = https://archive.today/20170916175255/https://cbseneet.nic.in/cbseneet/faq.aspx
|archivedate = 2017-09-16
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

The minimum eligibility cut-off for making it into the merit list was 40 percentile ( [107 to 130] out of 720 marks ) for students in the reserved category, while it was 50 percentile for general category ( [131 to 697] out of 720 marks ). Anitha scored 12.33 percentile while admission was 14.9 for reserved and 18.2 for general categories for 2018 admission.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Apr 15|first=Rema Nagarajan / TNN /|last2=2018|last3=Ist|first3=02:11|title=NEET: For an MBBS seat, you need just 5% in physics, 20% in biology {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/for-an-mbbs-seat-you-need-just-5-in-physics-20-in-biology/articleshow/63766630.cms|access-date=2020-09-01|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 23, 2017|title=Result declared! Meet the top 3 rank holders of NEET 2017|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/neet-2017-toppers-984323-2017-06-23|access-date=2020-09-01|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

Admission to medical colleges is based on NEET rank calculated by the percentage/percentile arrived at with the highest score and not on the marks obtained in NEET exam.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NEET MBBS merit ranking will be determined by percentile scores|url=https://www.successcds.net/MedicalEntranceExam/NEET/NEET-MBBS-merit-ranking-determined-percentile-scores.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.successcds.net}}</ref>

On 1 September 2017, she committed [[suicide by hanging]].<ref>{{cite web
|title = Tamil Nadu girl Anitha who spearheaded fight against NEET commits sui…
|url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anitha-tamil-nadu-neet-suicide-ariyalur-medical-entrance/1/1038755.html
|date = 2017-09-17
|archiveurl = https://archive.today/20170917141705/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anitha-tamil-nadu-neet-suicide-ariyalur-medical-entrance/1/1038755.html
|archivedate = 2017-09-17
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> Her death created a major controversy in [[Tamil Nadu]] where the [[National Eligibility and Entrance Test]] for medical admissions was strongly opposed. She has become a cause celebre as a victim of the system.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/sep/02/dozens-detained-as-tamil-nadu-braces-for-the-next-storm--anitha-1651348.html | title=Dozens detained as Tamil Nadu braces for the next storm — Anitha | publisher=[[New Indian Express]] | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-17-year-old-anita-who-led-battle-against-neet-exemption-for-tamil-nadu-in-sc-commits-suicide-2542205 | title=17-year-old Anitha, who led battle against NEET exemption for Tamil Nadu in SC, commits suicide | publisher=DNA | date=1 September 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/630929/dalit-student-moved-sc-against.html | title=Dalit student who moved SC against NEET commits suicide | publisher=[[Deccan Herald]] | work=Sathyanarayana | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-govt-centre-to-blame-for-anithas-death/article19605161.ece | title=‘State govt., Centre to blame for Anitha’s death’ | publisher=The Hindu | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/aug/18/ariyalur-dalit-girl-represents-tamil-nadus-neet-angst-at-supreme-court-1644666.html | title=Ariyalur Dalit girl represents Tamil Nadu’s NEET angst at Supreme Court | publisher=New Indian Express | date=18 August 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/sep/01/anitha-had-a-dream-a-poor-dalit-village-girl-who-would-become-a-doctor--but-it-died-with-her-1651211.html | title=Anitha had a dream, a poor Dalit village girl who would become a doctor — but it died with her | publisher=[[New Indian Express]] | date=1 September 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/medical-aspirant-commits-suicide-after-failing-to-get-admission/articleshow/60324877.cms | title=Medical aspirant commits suicide after failing to get admission | publisher=[[Times of India]] | work=K Sambath Kumar | date=1 September 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref>

==Background==
Anitha belonged to a poor [[Scheduled caste]] family in Kuzhumur village, [[Ariyalur district]] in rural [[Tamil Nadu]]. Anitha was the daughter of a daily wage labourer and her mother had died when she was young. She was brought up by her grandmother and lived in a house without even a toilet. She studied in a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] Medium school and was amongst the toppers in her district and she was the only student in Ariyalur district to score 100% marks in Physics and Mathematics in the 12th standard examination.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/anti-neet-petitioner-suicide-protests-erupt-in-chennai-centre-blamed-for-death/story-CZS6mvV95sOPJkGSyvH1rI.html | title=Protests in Chennai over NEET petitioner Anitha’s suicide, Centre blamed | publisher=Hindustan Times | work=KV Lakshmana | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref> Anitha always wanted to become a doctor. She saw that it was not possible for poor rural students to afford expensive coaching needed to prepare for NEET exams and only if medical admission selections were done based on the 12th standard marks alone would rural students be able to get seats. Anitha was unable to meet the cutoff and secure a seat through NEET. Anitha was offered an aeronautical engineering course seat at the [[Madras Institute of Technology]] but as she only wanted to be a doctor she did not take up the offer. She would have been the first from her community in her village to become a doctor.<ref name="CBSE">{{cite web | url=https://thewire.in/173587/anitha-suicide-neet-medical-education-mbbs-cbse-social-justice/ | title=Imposing NEET on Tamil Nadu Could Damage the State’s Model Education System | publisher=Wire | work=Karthick Ram Manoharan | date=4 September 2017 | accessdate=5 September 2017}}</ref>

== NEET court case==
The Tamil Nadu government originally considered reserving 85% of the seats to Tamil Nadu State Board students. The [[Madras High Court]] dismissed it after an appeal. Later Tamil Nadu government had also promised exemption from [[National Eligibility and Entrance Test]] for one year. However the [[Supreme Court of India]] dismissed Tamil Nadu government's plea after the central government refused to support Tamil Nadu's ordinance seeking exemption from [[National Eligibility and Entrance Test|NEET]] for one year.

Anitha implead herself in the petition in the Supreme Court against NEET claiming it was against the interests of rural students after a case was filed by [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] students represented by senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram, wife of [[P. Chidambaram]], who argued that admissions should be made only on basis of [[National Eligibility and Entrance Test|NEET]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/medical-aspirant-commits-suicide-after-failing-to-get-admission/articleshow/60324877.cms | title=Medical aspirant commits suicide after failing to get admission | publisher=[[Times of India]] | work=K Sambath Kumar | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=5 September 2017}}</ref> After the [[Supreme Court of India]] verdict which stated that admissions should be made only based on NEET, Nalini Chidambaram stated, "Any further appeal against NEET can only be done to God," and that the Tamil Nadu government could no longer do anything for State Board students after the Supreme Court verdict.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/neet-disappointment-tn-next-appeal-only-god-says-nalini-chidambaram-67205 | title=NEET disappointment for TN ' Next appeal only to God'' Nalini Chidambaram | publisher=.thenewsminute.com | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.edexlive.com/live-story/2017/jul/15/no-reservation-only-neet-why-the-madras-hc-agreed-with-nalini-chidambaram-that-giving-state-board-829.html | title=No reservation, only NEET: Why the Madras HC agreed with Nalini Chidambaram that giving state board students 85 percent reservation was discriminatory | publisher=New Indian Express edexlive | date=15 July 2017 | accessdate=2 September 2017}}</ref>

The BJP led Central Government of India wants to implement NEET, but the state government did not approve NEET. The syllabus of Tamil Nadu schools were different from NEET syllabus. There was no clear understanding of the NEET syllabus. The government also did not take any steps to educate the students. Being from poor family, not having access to any NEET materials she was heart broken. If medical admissions had been held on the basis of Plus Two scores as was in vogue for the past decade, Anitha having scored centum in Physics, 199 in Chemistry and 194 in Biology (she also scored centum in Mathematics), would have secured a cut-off of 196.75 out of 200. Considering that the MBBS cut-off for Scheduled Caste candidates last year was only 191.25 last year, she would have, in all probability, bagged a seat in a sought after Government medical college. However, as admissions were conducted solely on the basis of NEET scores, Anitha did not qualify as she had scored just 86 marks out of 720 in the test.

Anitha committed suicide by hanging herself nine days after the verdict.

==Protest==
[[File:Justice for Anitha.jpg|thumb|#JusticeForAnitha protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi]]
Her suicide led to protests all over [[Tamil Nadu]] against [[National Eligibility and Entrance Test|NEET]] after her death. Anitha's family refused Tamil Nadu government's compensation offer.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/family-of-medical-aspirant-anitha-who-committed-suicide-fighting-neet-refuses-government-relief-1745650 | title=Family Of Anitha, Who Killed Herself Over NEET, Sends Back 7-Lakh Cheque | publisher=NDTV | work=J Sam Daniel Stalin | date=5 September 2017 | accessdate=5 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/YzQqr7E2C6FdL27lmkNV2L/Protests-against-NEET-intensify-after-Dalit-students-death.html | title=Protests against NEET intensify after Dalit student’s death in Tamil Nadu | publisher=LiveMint | work=Dharani Thangavelu | date=5 September 2017 | accessdate=20 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.uniindia.com/thousands-bid-tearful-adieu-to-dalit-girl-who-commits-suicide-over-neet/states/news/978338.html | title=Thousands bid tearful adieu to Dalit girl, who commits suicide over NEET | publisher=United News of India | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=20 November 2017}}</ref> The large scale protests led to the [[Supreme Court of India]] to ask the Tamil Nadu Government to control the protests.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/e89fdiIf4PIK6YrMWPaJAO/NEET-exam-SC-directs-Tamil-Nadu-govt-to-ensure-no-agitation.html | title=NEET: Supreme Court tells Tamil Nadu to ensure protests don’t take place | publisher=Livemint | work=Priyanka Mittal | date=8 September 2017 | accessdate=20 November 2017}}</ref>

==Reaction to her death ==
Director [[Pa. Ranjith]] who attended her funeral stated {{quote|"even after acquiring very good marks in class 10 and class 12 her dreams were shattered as more harsh weapons like NEET were being created. The main objective seems to be like curb the entry of the downtrodden into institutions just like IIT."}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anitha-suicide-neet-tamil-nadu-pa-ranjith-ariyalur/1/1039442.html | title=Anitha suicide: Death of drowntrodden common in unequal society, says filmmaker Pa Ranjith | publisher=[[India Today]] | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=20 November 2017}}</ref>
[[M.K.Stalin]] stated {{quote|"the cruelty of NEET had been explained by the death of Anitha, whose dream of becoming a doctor was killed and all her efforts over two years in higher secondary schooling allowed to go to waste."}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-govt-centre-to-blame-for-anithas-death/article19605161.ece | title=State govt., Centre to blame for Anitha’s death’ | publisher=The Hindu | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=20 November 2017}}</ref>
[[T.T.V. Dhinakaran]] stated that {{quote|“Anitha had faith in the promise of the government but committed suicide because she could not tolerate the betrayal. If Amma (Jayalalithaa) was alive, she would have saved the State from the injustice of the NEET.”}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.cinefame.com/tag/kulumur-anitha-death/ Ariyalur Anitha’s Last video against NEET exam.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anitha, S.}}
[[Category:2000 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:Dalit women]]

Suicide of S. Anitha - Revision history

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