EXCLUSIVE/ Rising Rent, Costly Libraries and Never Ending Struggle Haunt UPSC Aspirants in Delhi

New Delhi: With just a few weeks remaining for UPSC Mains exam 2024, IAS aspirants in Delhi are facing a new challenge -- inflated price of library membership-- following a crackdown by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) against illegal basements in national capital.

Amid uproar over Rau's IAS Study Circle tragedy in which three IAS aspirants drowned at flooded basement of institute, civic body has sealed many libraries in parts of Delhi, leing to dearth of libraries in city. Now, students are left in a lurch with limited options of conducive environment to study peacefully.

Some of students protesting outside Rau's coaching centre said that after sealing of several libraries that were operating from basements in localities, demand and supply chain of library has been disrupted and that remaining libraries have hiked ir prices, mounting troubles for students who are alrey struggling with financial woes.

'No Alternative Place to Study'

A student named Mayank (name changed) told that  several coaching centres and libraries that were running illegally in basements have been sealed by MCD, leaving m with alternative place to study except ir accommodation.

"Every student who prepares for UPSC has to study atleast for 9-10 hours based on ir capacity. This tragedy has deeply impacted student community, leaving behind psycological scars. This is traumatic. Study points at basements have been closed but re is no alternate solution. We are forced to study in room just like we did during Covid-19 pandemic. study centres that are not operating from basements have increased ir prices according to ir demand and supply. Maximum study points here were running illegally from basement and irony is that we didn't know that y were illegal. H we known that y were illegal, we wouldn't have taken mission re, " said Mayank.

He told that many coaching centres have come forward in giving assistance to students of Rau's centre.

‘Finding Decent Accommodation Facility a Challenge’

Speaking about issues faced by UPSC aspirants coming from or states to Delhi, anor IAS aspirant, Rupak Kumar, said first challenge for m is to find a decent accommodation facility at Old Rajinder Nagar area as brokers sometime charge three times rent price.

'I'm Scared to Go to Basement Now'

Highlighting why sealing of libraries have impacted students, Sarvesh Tiwari, a UPSC aspirant from Chhattisgarh and student of Next IAS, said, "This incident has left people in shock. Before this tragedy, student were studying in basements freely, including me. We thought y were legal. After this incident several libraries in basements have been sealed and this has left a negative impact as about 95% libraries in this area were operating from basements. So, students who are living in double-triple sharing rooms don't have enough space for m to study properly so access to library is important for m. Now, libraries housed on ground and upper floors have almost doubled ir prices to Rs 5,000.  A room here normally costs around Rs 20,000. This has worsened our financial woes. Government should come up with alternative options."

" basement libraries that have been sealed not only have waterlogging issues but also prone to earthquake and fire threat. I am scared to go to basement now. Once my coaching is over, I will relocate," he ded.

Student also said that not only m but ir parents are worried after deaths as y were calling m back home. y also express apprehension in touching iron gates after electrocution of a UPSC aspirant.

Shift to Online Mode Negatively Impacting Students

Ayush, a UPSC student from Ahmedab, said that almost 5,000-6,000 students come to Delhi especially before Mains exams. "Now libraries have been closed, where will y go now?" he asked. 

"This is nothing but just a tip of an iceberg. Now many institutes have been closed. big classrooms with over 200 students used to witness group discussions and today those discussions are not taking place. need for which people were coming to Delhi is not being fulfilled. Here, room rent will cost at least 15,000.  All money is getting wasted since y can't study way y want given overcrowded rooms and poor facilities."

He ded, "Almost 65% of coaching centres operated from basements and after ir closure, students are in a fix. Many students don't even know what optional subject to choose. y take coaching for it and now se centres have been closed. Many students 
even do odd jobs at se centres to support mselves financially. If taken this in note, this is a big loss in terms of employment."

Rising Demand for Room Rent Capping

students also demanded a cap in room rent and coaching centres fees. One of students said, "se brokers are sitting like vultures, waiting to target a student."

Rajat, an UPSC from Faridab, said, "Here a broker charges rent of 21 days as brokerage. A nexus of broker is operating here. y earn around 8-9 lakhs in mission season. A one room set with a bedroom and kitchen can cost around 20,000 here. Government should come up with a plan to regulate rent."

Apart from dealing with financial constraints, students even have to deal with societal and peer pressure. UPSC Mains exam is scheduled to be held on September 20 and recent coaching centre tragedy continues to haunt m. swift action by MCD in sealing underground/basements study points has negatively impacted students by leaving m with limited and expensive options, acting as a hinderance in keeping up ir preparation momentum. As national capital has returned to its routine, student hope for a real change which can make ir lives little easy.