Guwahati: Student organisations in Meghalaya have said the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not mark the end of the NEET controversy.
They said meaningful reforms, including district-level NEET examination centres and major changes to what they described as a compromised examination system, remain necessary.
The Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM) on Saturday urged the government to set up permanent NEET examination centres in Jaintia Hills, preferably at Jowai or Khliehriat, besides establishing such centres in every district headquarters across Meghalaya.
The organisation said the existing arrangement places a heavy financial burden on students from low-income families, who are forced to spend large sums travelling to examination centres. It added that neither poverty nor location should prevent students from accessing education on equal terms.
The JSM also demanded a fair investigation, to be completed within a fixed timeframe, into the alleged NEET-UG 2024 irregularities. It said the examination should be held again if the inquiry confirms that the process was compromised.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) said replacing the Education Minister alone would not immediately resolve the problems affecting the examination system.
However, KSU general secretary Reuben Najiar said the resignation demonstrated that those in senior positions could be held responsible when student concerns are repeatedly overlooked.
The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) stated that its participation in the Jantar Mantar protest was to oppose political interference in the education system.
The union also appealed to political parties to keep politics out of the movement, saying its only objective is to protect the interests of students.