ROAD TO BECOMING DOCS NOT AT ALL NEET FOR LANKAN REFUGEES

Special quota enjoyed by the community was struck down by Madras High Court in 2003; national eligibility test norms bar refugees from appearing for the competitive examination

- PEARSON LENEKAR SR

ALTHOUGH nursing dreams of becoming a doctor, 17-year old S Sharina Christy, who completed schooling this year, had to be content by enrolling in a paramedical course -- BSc (Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technology) -- at a private college in Chengalpattu district. Sharina's identity as a Sri Lankan refugee bars the resident of the rehabilitation camp in Pudukkottai's Thekattur from even sitting down for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Sharina is not alone, as the Sri Lankan Tamils in such rehabilitation camps spread across the state have been urging the Union and state governments to allow their children to take up NEET and pursue MBBS in colleges across the country.