India is passing through tough times due to Corona lockdowns.
The plight of civil services aspirants is pitiable due to lockdown of coaching institutes ,threats of eviction by landlords, exploitation by teaching shops.Let me start by revealing the unethical practices followed by some private institutes engaged in coaching of civil services aspirants.
Sample ground realities . Some filthy-rich coaching institutes are generously rewarding cash honoraria to top rankers of CS examinations conducted by UPSC, States PSCs, year-after-year .
This is not for charity but for promoting business interests of coaching institutes. Tough competition. The going rate is anything from 5 to 10 lakh rupees. Cash incentive violates conduct rules if it become a source of income.
There is otherwise no harm on part of top rankers in sharing their success strategy with new aspirants . Dirty secrets.Some even don’t mind haggling for the quantum of honoraria.
I cannot paint all aspirants with same brush.There are honest ones,too.But, it shocks when rank-holders receive regular invitations from coaching institutes with free air tickets and large honoraria in cash.
Worse, some over-enthusiastic ex- Chairpersons, Members of UPSC and States PSCs ( All Constitutional appointees) interact with the toppers, little realizing that they are denigrating the dignity of high constitutional positions ,they once held. Not to lag behind,even some " Serving” Civil Servants, especially those belonging to IAS, IPS,IRS etc, do not hesitate in stealthily taking leave from their employers to assist coaching institutes.
Is this permitted the under Conduct rules? Consider specifics. Of late, a private coaching institute headquartered at outstation, organized a webinar with civil services aspirants.
It invited a former President of India , an ex- Chairperson of UPSC and politician with dubious background like Shashi Tharoor . Nothing pro bono.
One wonders what secret mantra ,they gave to CS aspirants. Misled by names of eminent persons and politicians,the aspirants are easily attracted.
The burden of expenditure ultimately falls on the poor, hapless aspirants, who are charged excessively high fees offering “ attractive” packages by coaching institutes. By indulging in unethical practices, the coaching centres merely promote “dependency culture”.
In the present scenario of corona virus, I would urge the aspirants to follow PM’s mantra of “Atma-Nirbharta ”. No Regulatory Mechanism The coaching institutes are sprouting at every nook and corner of metropolitan cities .
There are no Regulatory Authorities at the Centre or the States to monitor their functioning including verifying the credentials of teaching faculties hired by coaching institutes.
The coaching industry in the country ,has a large turn-over running into thousands of crores of rupees per year. Certain institutes allegedly function under the garb of NGOs benefitting from foreign funding .
These need thorough investigations. It is high time for the Government of India to take the call by ordering a thorough probe into the functioning of coaching industry by IT, ED and CBI and lay down strict guidelines for all State governments and set up a standing body in each state to regulate their functioning.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)