Bhadrachalam: G Sai Ritika, a student from Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, scored 438 out of 720 in NEET-2025. Despite her efforts, she faces a setback in her medical admission because she’s considered a “non-local” in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Ritika achieved an All India Rank of 1,41,256 and a Telangana state rank of 2,538. However, during MBBS counselling, her application was marked as non-local, affecting her chances under the state quota.
Her father, Ashok Kumar, expressed frustration. He has lived in Bhadrachalam for over 40 years and said, “My daughter has grown up here, yet she’s not seen as a local.”
The problem arose after the 2014 division of Andhra Pradesh. Ritika’s early education was in Purushothampatnam, part of Yetapaka mandal in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh. This area was merged into Andhra Pradesh due to the Polavaram project.
She completed her intermediate studies in Hyderabad, Telangana. Her schooling history impacts her local status for Telangana’s medical counselling.
In Andhra Pradesh, 15% of medical seats are open to non-locals. Telangana lacks this provision, complicating Ritika’s situation.
Even a decade after the state split, issues around local status persist, leaving students uncertain.
MLA Tellam Venkata Rao has addressed this with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, advocating for Bhadrachalam students to be considered local in Telangana. A proposal under GO 33 seeks exceptions for these students.
Ashok Kumar urges authorities for fair treatment. “My daughter cleared NEET with a strong score, but this administrative mix-up is blocking her dream. We just want justice.”
