Punjab CM announces free bus rides for NEET aspirants
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the State Government has decided to waive the fare for all students travelling in Punjab Roadways buses to reach their respective centres for the NEET UG re-examination to be held on June 21.
“Many poor students take the NEET exam. They don’t even have the money to pay for the fare to get to the exam centre.
“When (Arvind) Kejriwal spoke to the NEET students recently, they requested help... Therefore, the Punjab Government has decided to waive the fare for all students taking the NEET exam in all Punjab Roadways buses on June 20, 21 and 22. Show your admit card, and you won’t be charged a ticket,” Mann said in a post on X in Punjabi.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) held on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of irregularities in the examination process.
Following complaints from NEET aspirants about financial difficulties and mental stress after the exam was cancelled, AAP national convener Kejriwal on Tuesday said he would request Punjab Chief Minister Mann to make bus travel free for the candidates in the State on the day of re-examination.
In a video on X, Kejriwal said many students had reached out to him after he sought feedback and suggestions regarding the NEET examination issue.
He said that over 50 lakh people had watched his earlier video and thousands of students had shared their concerns, including anxiety, depression and frustration over the cancellation of the examination and the rescheduling of the test for June 21. Addressing concerns raised by students about travel expenses, Kejriwal said he would speak to Mann regarding free bus travel for NEET aspirants in the state on the examination day.
“Some children have written that they do not have enough money to afford bus fare. I am going to Punjab tomorrow and will speak to Bhagwant Mann so that at least in Punjab, bus travel can be made free for students on the day of the examination,” he said.
