New Delhi: Following the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants, who drowned in the basement of Rau’s IAS coaching centre Saturday evening after it was flooded, students in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar have been protesting against the institute’s authorities and the government. However, prominent educators and founders of popular coaching institutes have, so far, remained absent.
The silence of teachers like Vikas Divyakirti and Awadh Ojha is being questioned by the protesting aspirants.
“We have made them what they are. And now, when we need them, they are nowhere to be seen. They didn’t even post anything on the issue. If coming out of their air-conditioned coaching institutes is difficult, they could have at least posted on social media,” said Sachin Shukla, an aspirant residing in Old Rajinder Nagar.
Many aspirants even marched to Divyakirti’s residence Monday night. They wanted him to come out and speak to them, but he did not.
While offline coaching centres, which charge around Rs 2 lakh per course, have remained quiet, teachers from online platforms, such as PW OnlyIAS, EdSarrthi and StudyIQ, have actively engaged with the aspirants to help articulate their demands.
Faculty members, like Sumit Rewari of PW OnlyIAS, Amit Kilhor of StudyIQ, and Sahil and Satvik of Vajiram have met with the students.
“We will form a committee with teachers and students, so that we can present the demands to the administration,” said Rewari.
Some of these teachers spent the entire day at the protest site, supporting the students and ensuring that the protest remained peaceful.
“The teachers are hopeful that the administration will respond to the aspirants’ demands. We have also demanded that all coaching institutes have a student grievance committee,” StudyIQ’s Kilhor told ThePrint.
However, the absence of popular teachers has the protesting aspirants miffed.
“We welcome those teachers who are here to support us. But we had expected that those who teach the ethics paper in classrooms would come and speak up for us,” said Hardika Puniya, a UPSC aspirant.
Hundreds of students have been protesting on the Bada Bazar Road in Old Rajinder Nagar since Saturday.
Officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi met with the aspirants Sunday night and announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased, while assuring the protesters of strict action against illegal construction in Old Rajinder Nagar.
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