Indian students launch hunger strike over deaths of civil service hopefuls

The deaths of civil service aspirants in a coaching center last week has triggered protests in New Delhi
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Three people died when the basement of a coaching center was flooded last week

Hundreds of civil service candidates have launched a protest in New Delhi, including almost a dozen who have gone on hunger strike. The protesters are demanding justice for three students who were killed when the basement of a coaching institute for civil service exams was flooded last weekend. 

Heavy rains caused water from a drain to flood the building in the Indian capital on Saturday, trapping several students inside. Although most of the group were rescued, three could not be saved. An initial police investigation has revealed that the coaching institute was “illegally operating” a library in the basement area. Several people, including the owner of the institute, have been arrested.

The incident, which happened in Rau’s Study Circle in the Old Rajinder Nagar locality in the city, has triggered a massive backlash from the student fraternity.

Protesters have gathered in Old Rajinder Nagar and have issued a host of demands, including compensation of 50 million rupees ($600,000) for the families of the deceased, a “transparent” investigation into the incident, and a ban on the use of basements for libraries and classes in Delhi, the Financial Express reported.

A group of protesters also began a hunger strike on Monday afternoon. “We feel that our demands are not being heard,” one member of the group told the India Today news channel.

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a committee to investigate the deaths. Meanwhile, 1 million rupees ($12,000) in compensation for the victims has been announced by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, who is the constitutional head of the capital. On Monday, local media reported that Delhi’s civic body had started taking action against illegal coaching centers in the city.

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Student representatives met Delhi’s education minister, Atishi Marlena, and other state officials on Wednesday. “Students put forth their concerns and feedback regarding high fees, lack of infrastructure at coaching centers,” Marlena said, as quoted by the PTI news agency. The students also complained about “high rent and high brokerage charges” for living in the area near coaching centers.

Coaching centers train students to pass exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment into prestigious government jobs, with the bulk of them located in Old Rajinder Nagar. It is common practice for Indian coaching centers to use basements as libraries to cut costs, according to local media reports.

Every year approximately 1 million students take the notoriously tough civil service exams. However, only about 0.2% of applicants make it through. Over the years, several students have taken their own lives after failing to pass.