Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Falling edifice: On the Delhi private hostel building collapse

Falling edifice: On the Delhi private hostel building collapse

Delhi’s ambition as an education hub (प्रमुख केंद्र, मुख्य केंद्र) is at odds with (के विपरीत, से असंगत) its civic infrastructure (नागरिक बुनियादी ढाँचा)

The collapse (breakdown, failure, cave-in, fall) of a five-storey (पाँच मंजिला) building in Delhi, being run (चलाना, संचालित करना) as a private hostel that killed seven and injured five in a densely populated (घनी आबादी वाला) colony abutting (be next to or have a common boundary with; adjoin, border, touch, join) Delhi University’s South Campus, has brought to light the twin issues of haphazard (अव्यवस्थित, बिना योजना का) development (विकास, विस्तार) in the capital city’s residential areas and the shortage (कमी, अभाव) of affordable housing (reasonably priced housing, economical housing, low-cost housing, budget housing) for students. With over 70,000 students entering Delhi University every year and almost half of them needing accommodation (रहने की जगह, आवास) on a student budget (limited budget, tight budget, restricted funds, constrained finances, minimal allowance), the city has failed to keep up with (move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else; keep pace with, match, equal, rival) the growing (बढ़ती हुई, लगातार बढ़ रही) demand (मांग, आवश्यकता). The University has, for all practical (realistic, feasible, sensible, pragmatic) purposes, absolved itself of the responsibility (duty, task, burden, obligation), citing lack (absence, deficiency, shortage, dearth) of land, leaving private players (private entity, private company, private enterprise, non-state actor) to cash in (take advantage of a situation in order to make money; take advantage, capitalize, exploit, profit) and run paying guest accommodations (rented rooms or shared lodgings provided in private premises for a fee; PG accommodations, guest lodgings) or private hostels that are not regulated (control or supervise by means of rules and regulations; control, manage, govern, monitor). In a setup (arrangement, system, structure, organization) where every extra bed means (intend to convey; signify, indicate, denote, imply) more revenue, matchbox-sized (extremely small or cramped; tiny, miniature, compact, cramped) rooms, often (frequently, regularly, repeatedly, habitually) located in buildings that flout (openly disregard a rule, law, or convention; defy, disobey, break, violate) building bylaws (a regulation made by a local authority or corporation; local law, regulation, rule, ordinance) and fire safety regulations (rule, ruling, order, directive) and have no ventilation (the provision of fresh air to a room or building; air circulation, airing, aeration, airflow), are what several students call (describe or designate as; name, term, designate as, regard as) home. As soon as (immediately at or shortly after the time that; right after, directly, immediately when, the moment that) they arrive in (reach a destination; reach, enter, come to, get to) the capital, students from many parts of the country realise (become fully aware of something as a fact; understand, comprehend, grasp, recognize) that they are paying to live in the city not just in monetary terms (relating to or measured in money; financially, economically, pecuniarily, fiscally) but with their safety, security and sanity (sound mind, mental health, rationality, reason).

The Delhi government says that it wants the city to be a national education hub (a primary centre for learning and academic activities on a national level) and harness (utilize, make use of, exploit, channel) the soft power (a persuasive approach to relations, relying on cultural or intellectual influence rather than coercion; cultural influence, persuasive power, non-coercive power, appeal) of its youth, but that will be not possible without addressing (think about and begin to deal with an issue or problem; tackle, deal with, attend to, focus on) the need (requirement, necessity, demand, requisite) for affordable (reasonably priced; cheap, economical, low-cost, inexpensive), safe student housing. The Delhi government has suspended ((temporarily) remove, dismiss, relieve of duties, lay off) five senior officers of the civic body (an administrative organization responsible for managing local affairs; municipal corporation, local authority, municipal body, local government), ordered a probe (a thorough and careful investigation; investigation, inquiry, examination, scrutiny) and announced that it was working on introducing a stringent (strict, precise, and exacting; strict, firm, rigid, rigorous) policy under which (governed by, regulated by, subject to, guided by) every building used for public activity (public use, public function, civic activity, communal event, social operation) would be required to undergo (experience or be subjected to something; go through, experience, submit to, face) periodic (regular, recurring, repeated, cyclical) structural audits (an official inspection, examination, review, assessment) and obtain safety certifications (safety approval, safety clearance). It must go beyond (do more than is expected or required; exceed, surpass, outstrip, transcend) these reactive measures (actions taken in response to a problem after it has occurred; remedial actions, response measures, corrective actions, post-incident measures) to seek (attempt to find or obtain something; search for, look for, pursue, aim for) more durable (long-lasting, lasting, resilient, robust, permanent) solutions. In 2024, the basement of a coaching centre flooded due to (because of, owing to, as a result of, on account of) heavy rains claiming (cause the loss of life; take, cause the loss of, cost, result in the loss of) the lives of three civil service aspirants (candidate, applicant, hopeful, seeker). After that incident as well (in addition to something else; too, also, additionally, besides), probes were ordered, basements were sealed and legal action was taken against owners but a larger (more significant) systemic (organizational, structural, comprehensive, fundamental) change remains elusive (difficult to find, achieve, or comprehend; hard to find, difficult to obtain, evasive, intangible). The Centre and the Government of NCT must work together with educational institutions to develop more residential, travel and learning facilities (provision, amenity, infrastructure, service, convenience) for students. The introduction of four-year undergraduate programmes also means that students will stay on (remain, continue, linger, keep going) for an additional year, increasing the pressure (strain, stress, burden, demand) on accommodation. Private hostels can be part of the solution, but crumbling (deteriorating, disintegrating, collapsing, decaying) civic infrastructure, illegal construction and lack of safety audits must be tackled (address, deal with, handle, manage) through policy and strict (rigorous, stringent, exacting, uncompromising, severe, rigid) enforcement (the act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law or rule; imposition, application, execution, implementation).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.falling (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - जर्जर होता हुआ, ढहता हुआ
English Meaning - collapsing, deteriorating, failing, tumbling.

2.edifice (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विशाल इमारत, भवन
English Meaning - a large, imposing building or a complex system; structure, building, construction, system, framework.

3.hub (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रमुख केंद्र, मुख्य केंद्र
English Meaning - the effective centre of an activity, region, or network; centre, core, heart, focus.

4.at odds with (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के विपरीत, से असंगत
English Meaning - in conflict or disagreement; in disagreement with, in conflict with, contrary to, on bad terms with.

5.civic infrastructure (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नागरिक बुनियादी ढाँचा
English Meaning - the fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area; municipal amenities, public utilities, public facilities, public infrastructure.

6.five-storey (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पाँच मंजिला
English Meaning - having five levels or floors.

7.run (verb)

Hindi Meaning - चलाना, संचालित करना
English Meaning - operate or manage something such as a business or facility; operate, manage, conduct, administer.

8.densely populated (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - घनी आबादी वाला
English Meaning - crowded with people; heavily populated, crowded, packed, thick with people.

9.bring to light (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - उजागर करना, सामने लाना
English Meaning - reveal, disclose, expose, uncover.

10.haphazard (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अव्यवस्थित, बिना योजना का
English Meaning - random, unplanned, unsystematic, disorganized.

11.development (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विकास, विस्तार
English Meaning - expansion, growth.

12.shortage (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कमी, अभाव
English Meaning - scarcity, lack, deficit, shortfall.

13.accommodation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - रहने की जगह, आवास
English Meaning - a place where someone lives or stays; lodging, housing, residence, quarters.

14.growing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बढ़ती हुई, लगातार बढ़ रही
English Meaning - increasing, expanding, rising, mounting.

15.demand (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मांग, आवश्यकता
English Meaning - requirement, need, call, necessity.

16.collapse (noun)

English Meaning - breakdown, failure, cave-in, fall

17.affordable housing (noun)

English Meaning - reasonably priced housing, economical housing, low-cost housing, budget housing.

18.abut (verb)

English Meaning - be next to or have a common boundary with; adjoin, border, touch, join.

19.haphazard development (noun phrase)

English Meaning - chaotic, unorganized, or unplanned construction and urban expansion lacking regulatory oversight; unplanned growth, disorderly expansion.

20.affordable (adjective)

English Meaning - reasonably priced and within the financial means of ordinary people; economical, reasonably priced, accessible, inexpensive.

21.student budget (noun)

English Meaning - limited budget, tight budget, restricted funds, constrained finances, minimal allowance.

22.keep up with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else; keep pace with, match, equal, rival.

23.growing demand (noun phrase)

English Meaning - an increasing requirement or need for a service or resource; rising requirement, expanding market.

24.practical (adjective)

English Meaning - realistic, feasible, sensible, pragmatic.

25.absolve oneself of (phrase)

English Meaning - to declare oneself free from blame, guilt, or responsibility; free oneself from, relieve oneself of, exempt oneself from, exonerate oneself from.

26.responsibility (noun)

English Meaning - duty, task, burden, obligation.

27.cite (verb)

English Meaning - mention, refer to, point to, adduce, invoke.

28.lack (noun)

English Meaning - absence, deficiency, shortage, dearth.

29.private player (noun)

English Meaning - private entity, private company, private enterprise, non-state actor.

30.cash in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - take advantage of a situation in order to make money; take advantage, capitalize, exploit, profit.

31.paying guest accommodation (noun)

English Meaning - rented rooms or shared lodgings provided in private premises for a fee; PG accommodations, guest lodgings.

32.regulate (verb)

English Meaning - control or supervise by means of rules and regulations; control, manage, govern, monitor.

33.setup (noun)

English Meaning - arrangement, system, structure, organization.

34.mean (verb)

English Meaning - intend to convey; signify, indicate, denote, imply.

35.matchbox-sized (adjective)

English Meaning - extremely small or cramped; tiny, miniature, compact, cramped.

36.often (adverb)

English Meaning - frequently, regularly, repeatedly, habitually.

37.flout (verb)

English Meaning - openly disregard a rule, law, or convention; defy, disobey, break, violate.

38.bylaw (noun)

English Meaning - a regulation made by a local authority or corporation; local law, regulation, rule, ordinance.

39.building bylaws (noun)

English Meaning - building regulations, construction rules, development regulations, building codes.

40.regulation (noun)

English Meaning - rule, ruling, order, directive.

41.ventilation (noun)

English Meaning - the provision of fresh air to a room or building; air circulation, airing, aeration, airflow.

42.call (verb)

English Meaning - describe or designate as; name, term, designate as, regard as.

43.as soon as (phrase)

English Meaning - immediately at or shortly after the time that; right after, directly, immediately when, the moment that.

44.arrive in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - reach a destination; reach, enter, come to, get to.

45.realise (verb)

English Meaning - become fully aware of something as a fact; understand, comprehend, grasp, recognize.

46.in monetary terms (phrase)

English Meaning - relating to or measured in money; financially, economically, pecuniarily, fiscally.

47.sanity (noun)

English Meaning - sound mind, mental health, rationality, reason.

48.national education hub (noun)

English Meaning - a primary centre for learning and academic activities on a national level.

49.harness (verb)

English Meaning - utilize, make use of, exploit, channel.

50.soft power (noun)

English Meaning - a persuasive approach to relations, relying on cultural or intellectual influence rather than coercion; cultural influence, persuasive power, non-coercive power, appeal.

51.address (verb)

English Meaning - think about and begin to deal with an issue or problem; tackle, deal with, attend to, focus on.

52.need (noun)

English Meaning - requirement, necessity, demand, requisite.

53.affordable (adjective)

English Meaning - reasonably priced; cheap, economical, low-cost, inexpensive.

54.suspend (verb)

English Meaning - (temporarily) remove, dismiss, relieve of duties, lay off.

55.civic body (noun)

English Meaning - an administrative organization responsible for managing local affairs; municipal corporation, local authority, municipal body, local government.

56.probe (noun)

English Meaning - a thorough and careful investigation; investigation, inquiry, examination, scrutiny.

57.stringent (adjective)

English Meaning - strict, precise, and exacting; strict, firm, rigid, rigorous.

58.under which (phrase)

English Meaning - governed by, regulated by, subject to, guided by.

59.public activity (noun)

English Meaning - public use, public function, civic activity, communal event, social operation.

60.undergo (verb)

English Meaning - experience or be subjected to something; go through, experience, submit to, face.

61.periodic (adjective)

English Meaning - regular, recurring, repeated, cyclical.

62.audit (noun)

English Meaning - an official inspection, examination, review, assessment.

63.safety certification (noun)

English Meaning - safety approval, safety clearance.

64.go beyond (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - do more than is expected or required; exceed, surpass, outstrip, transcend.

65.reactive (adjective)

English Meaning - responsive, responsive to change, un-proactive, reflex, retrospective.

66.measure (noun)

English Meaning - a plan or course of action; action, step, procedure, act.

67.reactive measures (noun)

English Meaning - actions taken in response to a problem after it has occurred; remedial actions, response measures, corrective actions, post-incident measures.

68.seek (verb)

English Meaning - attempt to find or obtain something; search for, look for, pursue, aim for.

69.durable (adjective)

English Meaning - long-lasting, lasting, resilient, robust, permanent.

70.due to (phrase)

English Meaning - because of, owing to, as a result of, on account of.

71.claim (verb)

English Meaning - cause the loss of life; take, cause the loss of, cost, result in the loss of.

72.aspirant (noun)

English Meaning - candidate, applicant, hopeful, seeker.

73.as well (phrase)

English Meaning - in addition to something else; too, also, additionally, besides.

74.larger (adjective)

English Meaning - more significant.

75.systemic (adjective)

English Meaning - organizational, structural, comprehensive, fundamental.

76.elusive (adjective)

English Meaning - difficult to find, achieve, or comprehend; hard to find, difficult to obtain, evasive, intangible.

77.The National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) (noun)

English Meaning - a special union territory of India that jointly administers New Delhi, the capital of India, possessing its own Legislative Assembly and government.

78.facility (noun)

English Meaning - provision, amenity, infrastructure, service, convenience.

79.stay on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - remain, continue, linger, keep going.

80.pressure (noun)

English Meaning - strain, stress, burden, demand.

81.crumbling (adjective)

English Meaning - deteriorating, disintegrating, collapsing, decaying.

82.tackle (verb)

English Meaning - address, deal with, handle, manage.

83.strict (adjective)

English Meaning - rigorous, stringent, exacting, uncompromising, severe, rigid.