Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: Dumri MLA Jairam Kumar Mahto has extended full support to Ladakh-based educationist, scientist and social activist Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing movement, writing him a letter on July 15 stating that the voice being raised over the NEET examination issue, and its impact on students’ futures and the education system, holds significant importance.
Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike Enters 17th Day, Mahto Raises Health Concerns
Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the past 17 days, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In his letter, Jairam Mahto expressed concern over Wangchuk’s health, noting that despite the 59-year-old sitting on a prolonged hunger strike, the central government has so far made no move to initiate dialogue.
Mahto Cites NEET Irregularities and Paper Leak Scandals
Mahto said that irregularities in the NEET examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), including paper leaks and the activities of solver gangs, have shattered the trust of lakhs of students, adding that the controversy had forced the cancellation of the exam held on May 3. He also referenced the paper leak case linked to Oasis School in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh, which reached the Supreme Court, noting that a CBI investigation had identified 45 accused individuals and 144 others who were found to have received leaked answers.
Mahto Links Exam Irregularities to Student Suicides
Jairam Mahto said that the fallout from exam irregularities, cancellations and re-examinations has disproportionately affected students, claiming that several students, driven to mental distress by these circumstances, had taken their own lives, with some reportedly writing in their suicide notes that they did not have the courage to sit for the exam again. He added that middle-class and economically weaker families spend substantial amounts on their children’s education and coaching, and that any disruption in the examination system places heavy mental and financial strain on students and their families. Concluding his letter, Mahto expressed hope that the central government would soon initiate dialogue on the issue and arrive at a transparent, lasting solution keeping students’ futures in mind.
