New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- The Delhi government's month-long Seva Sankalp celebrations to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday have come under scrutiny from students and residents, with the Satya Niketan PG collapse and the deaths of seven people still fresh in public memory.
The government held several programmes on Thursday as part of the campaign, including blood donation drives, organ donation pledges and other public-service activities. However, for many students, the timing of large-scale celebrations has raised questions about the government's priorities barely days after the September 6 collapse of a five-storey PG building in Satya Niketan.
"After losing the lives of so many students in the Satya Niketan incident, why did the government not show solidarity with the children who lost their lives? When questions are still being raised about the lack of government action and safety checks, such a big celebration should not have been held at such a crucial time," a BA student from Delhi University said.
Another student said the immediate focus should have been on assuring those living in PGs across Delhi that their safety was being taken seriously.
A resident from Satya Niketan questioned the larger purpose of the campaign. "Is it really the job of a capital's government to celebrate birthdays on such a large scale instead of focusing on the people and their problems? If so many projects from different departments can be announced, inaugurated and rolled out within just one month, why were these things not done earlier? Why did the government have to wait for the Prime Minister's birthday to push them?" the resident said.
He said the issue was not about opposing public-service programmes, but about the government's response at a time when questions over student accommodation and safety remain unresolved.
"Celebrations can take place, but the families who have lost their children cannot celebrate. At this point, the government should have shown greater sensitivity towards the victims and their families," the resident said.
Students said the tragedy had exposed a problem extending beyond one building. "For years, students have depended on private PGs because affordable hostel accommodation is limited. The government should treat safe student housing as basic infrastructure, not something to be addressed only after a tragedy," another student said.
Opposition parties questioned the timing of the government's Seva Sankalp programmes after the Satya Niketan deaths. Meanwhile, an MCD survey found only 31 of 2,453 PG properties had fire NOCs, while eight had structural stability certificates, highlighting safety concerns.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.