Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), founded by the social revolutionary, Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (1879-1973) has been the fore runner organization for the dispensation of social justice by removing the historical obstacles created by the communal forces. DK is basically a non political party. By sheer propaganda among the people it had created public opinion that influenced the rulers to act for the welfare and rightful justice of the aggrieved. In Tamil Nadu, DK under the leadership of Thanthai Periyar had launched massive agitation that compelled the insertion of Article 15(4) through the first Constitutional amendment in 1951. The amendment enabled the continuance of reservation benefits in education to the marginalisednot only in Tamil Nadu butalso extended throughout the country. Whenever anything detrimental affects the future of the oppressed sections, DK is used to mobilise public opinion by involving the political parties and social organisations to take up the cause. This has been the mode of organisational functioning from the period of Thanthai Periyar to the present days of Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani. In that way DK continues to remain a vital social organisation that fights for the cause of the oppressed within the constitutional means. DK’s leader Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani had been on a massive tour in April 2022 against NEET, NEP-2020 and the Curbing of States’ Rights by the Union Government.
NEET
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was introduced through the then prevailed Medical Council of India in 2013. It was challenged in the Supreme Court and held invalid. Since 2006 there existed an exclusive Act enacted by the Tamil Nadu State Assembly with the assent of the President of India that entrance tests for admission to the professional college courses in Tamil Nadu are not needed.
From the beginning the Tamil Nadu State government has been opposing NEET. When NEET had been forced for implementation in 2017, the State government had to implement but at the same time sought exemption from NEET. The present State government led by DMK appointed a committee with Justice A.K. Rajan to study the effect of NEET in Tamil Nadu after its implementation. Based on the findings of the Committee, the TN State Legislative Assembly has legislated an exclusive Bill for exemption from NEET and sent to the State Governor for sending to the assent of President of India. Governor instead of sending to the Union ministry, had withheld the Bill for 141 days and returned the Bill stating his opinion, unfounded with any authenticated information against the Bill on NEET exemption. The Chief Minister of the State convened an all party meeting representing people. The meeting unanimously decided to send back the Bill again to the Governor.
Accordingly the Legislative Assembly was specially convened for the agenda and the Bill was passed again unanimously by all the parties with the lonely BJP members walking out. Again the Governor is withholding the Bill that was again sent on 8th February 2022. Till date the Governor has not sent the Bill for the assent of President of India.
With persistent requests from the State ministers including the Chief Minister and his insisting on it when he met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi and also at various forums, the ball still remains in the court of Raj Bhavan. The Governor once stated that no one can insist on him to act on the Bill. It is being argued that Art. 201 of the Indian Constitution does not specify any time limit for the Governor to withhold the Bill. The argument is blatantly unconstitutional with bureaucratic arrogance. ‘Reading between the lines’ – approach is not practical. It will not serve the purpose for which those ‘lines’ were framed. Instead,the spirit behind the constitutional provision, rules, and regulations in the governance and executive machinery have to be understood.
Not specifying ‘time limit’ cannot be accepted as a valid reason for the Governor’s delaying action on the Bill for more than a reasonable period. The Constitution clearly states that State Governors have to act as per the advice of the State Council of Ministers.
Students who have scored high marks in their higher secondary final (12th Standard) examination have committed suicide since they did not have the required marks in NEET for admission in medical colleges. Since 2017, starting from Anitha16 students have lost their lives despite scoring high marks in +2 exams. They would have secured admission if NEET had been exempted for Tamil Nadu. The Standing Committee of Parliament on Entrance Test for Medical Courses had already suggested that the State government can seek exemption from any entrance test. What more legislative backing is required to exempt NEET?
National Education Policy 2020
India is a country of diversity in culture, language, dressing pattern, food habits, celebrating the festivals of different mythical stories etc. Without respecting those cultural aspects, bringing uniformity country wide will be detrimental to the unity of country, nurtured by the forefathers. One such move of uniformity is being thrust by the BJP led Union government unilaterally as National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020). In 2019, at the time of release of draft of the policy, it was invariably opposed by all the States ruled by the parties other than BJP.
India has been a land which denied education to the majority people based on their birth in a particular caste. To compensate the discrimination, education was provided to the denied. Still the compensation process is not completed. Prior to that compensatory measures hurdles are created in the form of NEP-2020. Stumbling blocks have been placed to drag the pace of progress that is taking place under the initiative and efforts of the various State governments.
In respect of framing educational syllabus, the channel of entry, medium of instruction, languages to be learnt, moving upon the educational ladder are in the domain of State government and the Union government cannot interfere. The NEP-2020 advocates uniform system of education and periodical conduct of common exams, for 5th, 8th and 10th std. students.This would only cause more dropout from schools. It would compel them to carry on with vocational learning. The oppressed section started getting education only a few decades ago. In the name of NEP-2020, they are brought back to the original starting point of leaving educational institutions and carrying on with the skilled, manual job which is nothing but hereditary occupational system. Learning of 3 languages along with mother tongue and Hindi is insisted upon. Instead of learning 3 languages, learning of related subjects would make the students prosper. In Tamil Nadu, two language policy viz. Tamil and English – (mother tongue and link language)is in vogue since 1968. There is no place for compulsory education of Hindi that makes the students as second class citizens of the country. Equal level field must be available to students studying under any education policy. NEP-2020 denies that equality to the students.This would surely have its ill effects on their career path.
Curbing of State’s Rights
Indian Constitution has demarcated 3 categories of governing power, one to be exercised by the Union government, the second under the purview by the State governments and the third in concurrence of both Union and State governments viz. Union List, State List and Concurrent List. After BJP came to power at the Union government, it has become a practice for it to exercise the power under State List and also to unilaterally exercise the power under Concurrent List. The subject ‘education’ was originally placed in State List which was transferred to ‘Concurrent List’ when the democracy of our land was in peril in 1976 during emergency period. But the BJP rule by Union government treats ‘education’ as if it is in ‘Union List’, without the concurrence of the State governments. The Union government should not confine itself merely to communication and consultation. It has to arrive at a decision or frame policy with due concurrence from State governments. Curbing of State’s rights has to stop immediately.
The polity of India is the Union of States. So, interference by the Union government in States’ powers will surely affect the federal feature of the political system.Federal structure is integral to the basic structure of our Constitution. Hence, it should be protected.
To protect the governing powers of States and to stop undue interference of Union government, the DK leader Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani was on a massive tour of 21 days from 03.04.2022 to 25.04.2022.He addressed 40 public meetings totally. The meetings highlighted the issue of opposing NEET and NEP-2020.
People understood how NEET & NEP-2020 are harmful to their children. The meetings were attended also by people in coveted posts. The tour was not for mere propaganda. It was to stir the inner feelings of the public. The ruling Union government must realize that the ultimate sovereignty is vested in the people of our country. Dr. K. Veeramani’s painful tour made people understand clearly why Tamil Nadu demands exemption from the harmful NEET and NEP.
Our State is being ruled by representatives of the people. They were elected by people’s mandate. But the Governor is nominated only by the Union Government. Therefore, rulers of the State must be recognized by it. This was made crystal clear by Dr. K. Veeramani’s productive tour.
