A 19-year-old aspirant of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which is meant for admission to undergraduate medical programmes, died by suicide in Villupuram district on Sunday, March 2. The teen was preparing for her second NEET attempt.
The police told the media that the teenager, R Indumathi, was suspected to have been triggered after she furnished incorrect details while applying for an OBC (Other Backward Class) certificate, and her father, G Ramadoss, asked her to be more vigilant. Her parents believed that this incident made her fear she would make similar mistakes in the exam as well.
Indumathi had scored 360/720 in her first NEET attempt, her parents said.
Following her suicide, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami issued a statement calling on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government to take responsibility for Indumathi’s death. Blaming the DMK for not keeping their poll promise of scrapping NEET, despite claiming to know the ‘secret’ to abolish the test, Edappadi said, “Even after four years of being in power, the DMK has not revealed the secret to students, and has left them in confusion.”
“The #Daddy_Son secret to scrapping NEET must be told immediately, if not, they must admit the truth that the DMK lied,” he wrote, taking a jibe at Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son, Minister of Youth Welfare Udhayanidhi Stalin.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations 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 am and 7 pm
Aasara offers support to individuals 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.
24x7 Helpline: 9820466726
Click here for working helplines across India.