S. Anitha Biography 
S.Anitha was a 17 year old student from Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu who committed suicide when she couldn’t get a medical seat following her Plus-two exams. She scored 1176/1200 in the 12th standard exams in the Tamil Nadu State Board, which could easily give her a medical seat in any government college of Tamil Nadu. Unfortunately when NEET was made compulsory for all candidates to achieve a medical seat in any college of India in government quota, Anitha managed to score only 86/720 marks. When she lost much expected medical seat, heartbroken, she hung to death. Her death broke many controversies and many celebrities came in opposing NEET exams.
Her full name is Shanmugam Anitha. She was born into a poor Dalit family in the rural Kuzhumur village, Ariyalur district of Tamil Naduon 5 March 2000. Her father is a daily wage worker. She lost her mother at a younger age and was brought up by her grandmother. She lived in poor economic conditions and in a home without a toilet. She studied Tamil medium. Despite poor living background, she was amongst the toppers in her district. She was the only student in Ariyalur district to score 100% marks in Physics and Mathematics in the 12th standard examination.
Till 2016, Medical seats of Tamil Nadu were allotted based on plus-two marks. Previous year Tamil Nadu was excluded from NEET. Obviously scoring 98% marks in state board exams could have easily gained her a medical seat in merit, and it was her dream to become a doctor. But when NEET was made compulsory for all medical seats across India, she couldn’t afford the expenses for study materials and crash course. She impleaded herself as one of the respondents in a Supreme Court case challenging NEET. Many political parties and social activists had been seeking exemption for the State from NEET, at least for one year. After Supreme Court’s verdict went against her wish, she ended her life on 1 September 2017 once NEET results got declared. She is survived by her four brother
Published: N/A
Updated: May 16, 2018
