Delhi Mayor Announces 4 Libraries To Honour UPSC Aspirants Who Died In Floor Tragedy

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has proposed building four libraries in memory of UPSC aspirants who died last month.

New Delhi: Delhi Mayor Shely Oberoi has proposed the establishment of four libraries in memory of the civil services aspirants who died last month, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying.

On July 27, three UPSC aspirants drowned in the basement library of a coaching center in Old Rajinder Nagar. A week earlier, another student in Mukherjee Nagar died after touching an iron gate that was in contact with an exposed wire.

There was, however, no clarity on how these libraries would be named. Mayor Oberoi’s letter to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi commissioner stated that these "may be established/constructed by the MCD in the name of the deceased students at four locations in Delhi," specifically "Rajendra Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Patel Nagar, and Ber Sarai."

These areas are coaching hubs for civil services and other competitive exams, and a large number of students live in hostels and PG accommodations in these localities.

In a letter to MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar on Thursday, the mayor highlighted that following the unfortunate incident in Rajinder Nagar, many students preparing for competitive exams in Delhi raised the issue of a shortage of public and government libraries.

Students requested the establishment of libraries as many could not afford the high membership fees charged by private libraries, leading Mayor Oberoi to propose the creation of MCD libraries.

"In view of the above, I would like to propose that at least four libraries may be established/constructed by the MCD in the name of the deceased students at four locations in Delhi... 1. Rajendra Nagar 2. Mukherjee Nagar 3. Patel Nagar 4. Ber Sarai," the mayor wrote. "Hence, budget provision for this work may be made from the Mayor's Discretionary Head of Account, and you are requested to direct the department concerned to check the feasibility and identify the land in these areas to initiate necessary action at the earliest,” the letter continued.

The official remarked that nothing can compensate for the loss Delhi feels, but "we are trying to improve public reading spaces for students." 

Education Loan Information: