Delhi Coaching Centre Deaths: Vikas Divyakirti Reacts On MCD Sealing Drishti IAS Basement

Vikas Divyakirti, the owner of Drishti IAS Coaching Institute, has spoken out following the tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants.

The students drowned in a flooded basement at Rau's IAS Study Circle.

Photo Credit: X

His statement comes after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi sealed the basement of his institute amid a crackdown on coaching centres in Delhi.

In a social media post on Drishti IAS's official handle on 'X’, Divyakirti expressed his sorrow over the incident. He wrote, "We express our deepest condolences on the unfortunate incident of Saturday in which 3 students Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni and Nivin Dalvin died untimely and tragically. We pay our humble tributes to the three children and pray to God that Please give strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss."

Addressing Student Safety Concerns

Divyakirti highlighted that Drishti IAS has taken significant steps to ensure student safety. He mentioned that their management includes a special post for a 'Fire and Safety Officer'. This officer is a graduate of National Fire Service College (Nagpur) with 14 years of experience in large hospitals and malls. Additionally, an officer is assigned to each building to monitor safety across 16 buildings daily.

He acknowledged the justified anger among students following the incident and urged that this anger be channelled constructively. Divyakirti called for strict guidelines for coaching institutes, stating, "It would be great if this anger gets a proper direction and the government implements certain guidelines for coaching institutes. We are actively cooperating with the government in this regard. Looking forward to doing it."

Complexities of Coaching Institute Regulations

The educator pointed out significant inconsistencies in regulations from various bodies such as the DDA, MCD, and Delhi Fire Department. He noted that there is no provision for coaching institutes in any document except 'Delhi Master Plan-2021’. Divyakirti hopes that when the committee appointed by the Union Home Ministry submits its report within a month, these issues will be addressed.

Divyakirti also proposed a long-term solution by suggesting that specific areas in Delhi be designated for coaching institutes. He recommended that the government take responsibility for constructing classrooms, libraries, and hostels. "If the government itself prepares classrooms, libraries, hostels, then there will be no problem of high rent or security," he suggested.

He concluded by announcing that Drishti IAS will soon release a detailed analysis to clarify the complexities surrounding this issue. "We will soon release a detailed analysis (article or video) to clarify the complexities of this topic so that all students and other stakeholders can understand all aspects. We believe that when all aspects are revealed, The right path to the solution will emerge," he stated.