New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI) – Four prominent UPSC coaching institutes, Vajiram and Ravi Institute, Drishti IAS, NEXT IAS, and SRIRAM’s IAS, have each offered Rs 10 lakh to the families of Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalvin, three IAS aspirants who tragically died when rainwater flooded the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar on July 27. Additionally, Drishti IAS and SRIRAM’s IAS have extended a similar compensation to Nilesh Rai, another UPSC aspirant who was electrocuted in Patel Nagar on July 22.
Despite the offers, numerous civil services aspirants protesting the deaths have labeled the compensation a mere gimmick, suggesting it is a tactic to downplay the severity of the issue. The deaths have led the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to seal the basements of several coaching centers, citing that using basements for commercial purposes violates building bye-laws.
In a statement on X, Vajiram and Ravi expressed their commitment to admitting students from Rau’s IAS Study Circle free of cost for the Main Exam 2024 and Prelims-cum-Mains Exam 2025, covering general studies, CSAT courses, and optional subjects. “As a sign of solidarity with the families of the departed souls, Vajiram and Ravi come forward to make a financial contribution of Rs 10 lakh to each of the three aspirants who lost their lives recently,” the statement read.
SRIRAM’s IAS has offered Rau’s IAS Study Circle students access to their classrooms and libraries as needed. NEXT IAS also offered compensation to the bereaved families, stating, “We understand the disruption faced by students enrolled in the current session at Rau’s IAS institute. NEXT IAS humbly announces to provide classes for the remaining syllabus without any charges to support the affected students. Such students may contact us by visiting our office after 5th August 2024.”
Drishti IAS announced that it would provide free classes for general studies, test series, and optional subjects to Rau’s IAS Study Circle students. “We know that no amount of money can erase the pain of losing children, yet as a humble effort to express our partnership in this hour of grief, Drishti IAS has decided to provide financial assistance of ₹10 lahks (each) to the four bereaved families,” the institute said in a statement.
In response to the incident, Rau’s IAS Study Circle faculty members will commence online classes starting August 5. Old Rajinder Nagar has become the epicenter of protests following the deaths, with students’ demonstrations entering their sixth day on Friday.
One protester remarked, “The coaching mafia had a meeting yesterday, and in that meeting, this new gimmick of free classes and compensation must have been thought to divert from the main issues.” Another aspirant, Harish, accused the centers of trying to divert attention by offering “so-called compensation.”
However, Karan, another IAS aspirant, welcomed the step, noting, “It will help the students of Rau’s IAS institute, but the bigger problem for the majority of students is that of the library, which is yet to be solved.” The MCD has sealed the libraries of coaching centers operating from basements in violation of norms, leaving students struggling to find suitable study spaces.
“Most of us have very small rooms where we do not even have space to place a table and chair, so we used to spend 10-12 hours daily in the library, which was mostly in the basements and is closed now. Now, since access to the library is not available, it’s very tough for us to study at such a crucial moment,” Karan added.
Political leaders and civic officials have visited the protest site to engage with the students and address their concerns.
The efforts of these coaching institutes to support the families of deceased IAS aspirants and offer free classes are commendable. However, the larger issues regarding study spaces and the commercial use of basements need urgent attention. To stay updated on this developing story and other related news, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
