Young voters all for action, not mere words

AMRITSAR: Come elections, and it is always an uphill task for political parties to woo the most important segment of voters, the one that holds the key to their fate – the youth. As the Assembly poll approaches, we decode what the young voters, many of whom are first-time voters, want from their representatives.

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 12

Come elections, and it is always an uphill task for political parties to woo the most important segment of voters, the one that holds the key to their fate – the youth. As the Assembly poll approaches, we decode what the young voters, many of whom are first-time voters, want from their representatives. From telling the political big wigs in the city to shun the act, young voters talk about better education standards, jobs, fighting drug abuse and even create wifi zones.

“The young voters today are well aware and the same old election tricks will not work with them. Same old promises made by the political leaders in the name of vote politics will have little effect. Why not talk about how they will generate the number of jobs that they promise in the election manifesto? Why not have a live debate or talk about policies in front of the young audience?” says Rishab Mohendru, 24, a civil engineering student from the Amritsar College of Engineering.

Nikhil Saini, 18, who is a first-time voter from Amritsar West, says that the most important factor would be employment. “More jobs within the city would mean that we do not have to leave our home after studies for a career. Also, the education sector also needs better infrastructure as not every student can afford expensive provide schools.” His friend Harpreet Singh, says the reservation system should be scrapped. “It is only wasting the talent of many eligible candidates, who loose out on opportunities due to the caste based system.”

In the absence of any student body in the GNDU, the students pursuing research fellowships and higher education say the regulation of fee and more funds for scholarships are needed to ease the burden of higher education. “What is the purpose of having a scholarship programme when the students have to shell out money from their own pocket due to non-availability of funds? Most students, who apply for scholarships come from low-income families and this puts a burden on them. Also, given that more digital media is being preferred for communication, e-classrooms and libraries and wifi zones should be created inside the university for students,” says Samiksha Sharma, a bachelor of social science student.

Japjeet Singh, hailing from Wadali, says that apart from academics, skill development should be aimed at providing jobs to youth. “A major reason for drug abuse in our area is the unemployed youth, who have nothing but to fall prey to drug abuse and crime. Until the local industry and technical sector is revived and jobs created, the problem will persist.”