Drishti IAS Owner Vikas Divyakirti Addresses Delhi Crackdown

Tragic Basement Deaths of Civil Services Aspirants

Vikas Divyakirti, the prominent owner of Drishti IAS, has recently spoken out regarding the crackdown on coaching centres in Delhi, especially following the tragic deaths of three civil services aspirants. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed the basements of several coaching institutes, including Drishti IAS, for allegedly breaching safety norms.

In a statement shared on Drishti IAS’s official social media handles, Divyakirti expressed deep condolences to the families of Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalwin. “We express our deepest condolences on the untimely and painful demise of the three students. Our thoughts are with their families during this difficult time,” he stated.

Divyakirti acknowledged the students’ frustration and urged that this anger be directed constructively. He emphasized the need for proper guidelines and regulations for coaching centres. “The issue is more complex than it seems. There are various factors involved, including ambiguous laws,” Divyakirti explained.

He pointed out discrepancies in regulations from bodies such as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), MCD, and the Delhi Fire Department. “The ‘Delhi Master Plan-2021’ is the only document mentioning coaching institutes, but it lacks clear provisions,” he noted. Divyakirti hopes that the forthcoming report from the Union Home Ministry will address these issues.

Drishti IAS has taken proactive measures, including employing a Fire and Safety Officer with extensive experience and conducting regular safety audits. Divyakirti also welcomed the MCD’s recent actions and suggested that the government designate specific areas for coaching institutes to mitigate high rent and security issues.