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Akshat Shrivastava, a finance advisor and content creator, on Wednesday shared a personal story, highlighting the health risks posed by Delhi’s air pollution and urged citizens to take proactive measures. Shrivastava revealed that his wife, who secured eighth rank in the UPSC exams and served as a Group A officer in the Indian Economic Service, decided to quit her government job, which would have kept her largely in Delhi. Citing concerns about the national capital’s severe air pollution and the well-being of their young son, he said the decision, though difficult, was one they do not regret. In a post on X, he wrote, “My wife got UPSC Rank 8th. She was a group A service officer (Indian Economic Service). Most of her career, she would be in Delhi. Looking at the pollution situation. And, our young son, she decided to quit. Was the decision difficult? Yes (like who leaves a Group A government job?) Do we regret 1 bit? absolutely not. ” He criticized the government over rising pollution levels, stating, “None of the governments give a shit. Citizens are mostly brainwashed. And, the onus is on you to save yourself.” Shrivastava emphasized that protecting one’s health often requires making tough personal choices. “For some it would be quitting your UPSC jobs. For others, it would be quitting your private jobs. For some, it would be quitting your business. Point is: if you want to protect your health, you gotta do something about it. And, fuck the political debate,” he added. Reacting to his post, many users on X praised his wife for placing health before career. A user commented, “Trading that fancy title for cleaner air so your kid can actually see the stars sounds like the ultimate promotion to me. She probably just traded in the mahogany desk for a backyard swing set, and that’s a win.” “Rank 8 in UPSC but rank 1 in choosing peace and lungs,” wrote another. “Health, especially of kids should always be the first priority for parents,” a third user expressed. Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, regularly experiences hazardous air quality levels, particularly during winter months, raising concerns for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
