logo
Delhi's new Aarambh libraries aim to ease study struggles for UPSC aspirants

Delhi's new Aarambh libraries aim to ease study struggles for UPSC aspirants

India Today2 days ago
Delhi's crowded education districts are witnessing a quiet shift taking place. Aarambh libraries, set up in community centres once left unused, have started to draw civil service aspirants who need a steady table, safe surroundings, and a cost they can manage.The change has its roots in a tragedy. Last year, three aspirants lost their lives in a flooded basement library in Rajinder Nagar. The incident exposed how unsafe and overcrowded many private study halls had become.advertisementIt also raised questions about the absence of affordable, secure places for long hours of study.DELHI EXPANDS AFFORDABLE, SAFE LIBRARIES FOR CIVIL SERVICE ASPIRANTS
The Delhi government responded by turning vacant DDA community centres into functional study spaces.Three Aarambh libraries are now open, two in Old Rajinder Nagar and Adchini, and the latest in Dwarka, inaugurated in July by Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena.His post on X after the opening noted that while grief cannot be removed, a promise had been kept.These facilities follow a simple model. At a fee starting from Rs 1,000 per month, each library serves 60 students in one shift, running three shifts of eight hours each.The daily total reaches 180 students. The rooms are well lit, fitted with CCTV, and have separate washrooms. Study tables come with power points.The sense of community is as important as the infrastructure. Students exchange notes, share current affairs updates, and practise interview answers together. Aspirants were seen highlighting the importance of such peaceful places for study.In parts of Delhi away from the main education hubs, many students still work in basement libraries with poor ventilation and no fire safety.The government now plans to expand the initiative to Mukherjee Nagar and Karol Bagh, both well-known centres for civil service preparation.If carried through, it could signal a larger move toward safer, better-managed spaces for those aiming for public service careers, a shift born from loss, but looking to the future.- Ends
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

IndiGo A321 suffers tailstrike at Mumbai airport during go-around in inclement weather
IndiGo A321 suffers tailstrike at Mumbai airport during go-around in inclement weather

Indian Express

time18 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

IndiGo A321 suffers tailstrike at Mumbai airport during go-around in inclement weather

An IndiGo Airbus A321 suffered a tailstrike during a go-around at Mumbai airport on Saturday afternoon during adverse weather, officials and the airline said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe into the incident. The airline stated that the plane's tail scraped the runway as the pilot decided to go around at low altitude because of inclement weather. The plane landed safely and no crew members or passengers were injured in the incident. Tailstrikes refer to instances where the tail of an airplane touches the runway during takeoff or landing. These incidents are deemed serious and are compulsorily reported to the DCGA for investigation and action. This is not the first such instance involving the airline. Earlier in March, another IndiGo Airbus A321's tail struck the runway during landing at Chennai airport. In 2023, the DGCA had charged IndiGo a penalty of Rs 30 lakh after four cases of tailstrikes were reported in six months. The regulator, in its audit, had identified gaps in the airline's engineering procedures and training. The spokesperson added that safety procedures were being adhered to. 'At IndiGo, the safety of our customers, crew, and airplanes is our utmost priority. We are taking all possible attempts to reduce any follow-on effect on our operations with this event,' the spokesperson said. After Saturday's incident, the plane was taken out of service for inspection and repairs. The DGCA will go over technical information, crew members' actions and weather conditions prior to issuing a final report. Examinations of such occurrences usually involve pilot crew simulator checks, engineering inspections and recommending additional correction steps if necessary.

Chandigarh: Budget for the repair of 100 PGI houses in Sector 12 proposed
Chandigarh: Budget for the repair of 100 PGI houses in Sector 12 proposed

Indian Express

time18 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Chandigarh: Budget for the repair of 100 PGI houses in Sector 12 proposed

Recently, information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act showed that 323 houses of different categories of PGI faculty and non-faculty staff have been lying vacant in sectors 12 and 24, Chandigarh, for years, causing the institute an annual financial loss of around Rs 5.5 crore. These houses cover multiple types, including 1, 2, 3, 4, 13D, 13JE, 13JC, 13JFE, 11H, 12H, B1, B2, and C. With many houses vacant, and many employees waiting for official accommodation, and living on rent, the non-allotment of vacant houses has caused not only financial loss to the institute, but also inconvenience to employees. Residential houses in PGI are primarily built for faculty, resident doctors, nursing staff, and other employees, and many are awaiting repairs for years, increasing annual maintenance costs. After the RTI development, a meeting was held early this week by the Priority Committee to discuss the need for repair and maintenance of houses in the PGI residential complex of Sector 12. As per records, engineers from the institute inspected the site in June and the case was highlighted to the committee. The repair work of 100 houses in the complex is expected to be completed in about five to six months. Demand for staff housing in PGI is high, and new doctors and employees often have to rent expensive accommodation outside the campus. Many staff members believe that timely repair and maintenance of these houses would bring them significant relief. Recommendations have been made to speed up the upkeep and allotment process. Proposals include earmarking a separate budget for repairs and undertaking large-scale renovations.

Trump's tariffs put Tamil Nadu's 20,000 factories, 30 lakh jobs at risk
Trump's tariffs put Tamil Nadu's 20,000 factories, 30 lakh jobs at risk

India Today

time30 minutes ago

  • India Today

Trump's tariffs put Tamil Nadu's 20,000 factories, 30 lakh jobs at risk

India's knitwear capital has raised an SOS after US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports, putting 20,000 factories and nearly 30 lakh jobs at Duraisamy, Joint Secretary of the Thiruppur Exporters Association, said the district, with 2,500 exporters and 20,000 standalone units, contributes 68 percent of India's knitwear exports.'Last year we made a turnover of Rs 44,744 crore, which is a phenomenal growth amidst the COVID lockdown, the slowing down of the Western economy and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. After this, we got 20 percent growth. Thiruppur caters to the USA, the UK, European Nations, Australia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and African countries, of which American business is 40 percent and Europe makes another 40 percent, the UK 10 percent and the rest is 10 percent,' he dependent solely on US buyers face the brunt of the crisis. Factories manufacturing core items such as undergarments, baby suits, and sleepwear are in 'deep trouble' as razor-thin margins make it impossible to absorb tariffs.'Buyers have instructed the factories to shipout whatever goods which are ready by 27th August while also asking to absorb a certain portion of the tariff which many have agreed to. But when the second 25 percent is announced for India, it is a huge blow as no one can absorb such a blow. This has put a hold on orders with buyer instructing no more shipment of orders after 27th August,' Duraisamy Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent intervention. 'In the last financial year, while 20% of India's total goods exports of $433.6 billion were to the United States, 31% of Tamil Nadu's $52.1 billion goods exports went there. This higher dependency on the US market clearly implies that tariff impact on Tamil Nadu will be disproportionately greater than for most other Indian states,' Stalin that Tamil Nadu accounts for 28 percent of India's textile exports, Stalin warned that a tariff hike could endanger millions of livelihoods. 'Especially, our textile sector employs nearly 75 lakh people and with a 25 percent tariff and a proposed 50 percent tariff, an estimated 30 lakh jobs are at immediate risk. To mitigate this crisis, it is essential to address structural issues that have long hindered our export competitiveness,' he said.- EndsMust Watch advertisementIN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store