Rajya Sabha Highlights Coaching Centre Crisis; Dhankhar Criticizes Commercialization
In a pointed discussion during the Monsoon Session on July 29, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar delivered a stark critique of the burgeoning coaching centre industry in India, likening it to a "gas chamber." Dhankhar highlighted the extensive financial burden imposed by these centres through hefty newspaper advertisements, calling for scrutiny of such expenditures.
The discussion, held under Rule 176, was prompted by the recent tragic deaths of three UPSC aspirants at a waterlogged Delhi coaching centre. Dhankhar emphasized the urgent need to nurture the country’s youth demographic, noting that coaching had devolved into commercial exploitation. "Coaching has become virtually commerce," he remarked, underscoring the industry’s high profitability at students’ expense.
Dhankhar lamented the commercialisation of education, stating, "Coachings have become a flourishing industry with high returns… every penny spent on advertisement is coming from the students." Comparing the situation to "gas chambers," he stressed how such commercialisation turns opportunities into problems and urged members to educate youths on alternative employment and skill development avenues.
On the political front, Dhankhar expressed his dismay over the practice of boycotting discussions by certain floor leaders, calling it a dilution of Parliamentary decorum. "This rebuff is not only unprecedented but also diminishes the essence of Parliamentary discourse," he stated.
The day’s proceedings also saw Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju ready to address the urgent matter of the UPSC students’ deaths under Rule 267. However, a discussion under this rule requires major party consensus, which was not achieved as opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, declined to participate.
During the debate, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala called for legislation to regulate coaching centre fees and ensure student safety. The session underscored the pressing need for regulatory measures within the coaching industry while highlighting the complexities of Parliamentary cooperation.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/coaching-culture-has-become-a-gas-chamber-jagdeep-dhankhar/article68460610.ece
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