PANAJI: With the third Covid-19 wave pushing lectures to the virtual mode, and impending exams taxing their brains, college students in Goa may currently be under academic stress. Despite this, their minds are clear when it comes to choosing a leader in their respective constituencies.
“We have candidates promising us startups and industries when some villages in Goa still lack proper roads, electricity and water supply. We need a leader to help the rural women become financially independent through self-help groups, upgrade schools, and provide employment to the youth,” said Maithili Chumbalkar, a 19-year-old student who will have her index finger inked for the very first time.
Over 11.6 lakh registered voters will come out to pick Goa’s next government on Monday, of which 29,479 are first-time voters in the 18-19 years age group. These young electors have much to say about their expectations from the new representatives of the state.
“We require better facilities for transportation, medical amenities, garbage treatment, regular electricity supply, education and safe drinking water. The manifestos made by them are attractive, but there should be someone who delivers the promises. They must also be capable of balancing between environment and development,” said 18-year-old Chaitrali Kalla Naga.
Nineteen-year-old Jane De Souza said candidates must act as soon as a finger is pointed towards a problem, instead of inconveniencing citizens with several delays. “We want roads to be repaired as soon as they’re found damaged, seamless water supply and eradication of unemployment. Moreover, we want the leaders to listen to us when we reach out to them with a problem instead of casting us aside,” she said.
This is also the age group that saw large-scale participation in environmental and heritage awareness over issues pertaining to Mollem and the Old Goa heritage site.
“All parties have brought about the socio-environmental destruction of Goa,” 18-year-old, Evanthika Pereira told TOI. “Politics in the state is steeped in corruption, which leads to huge sums of money being siphoned away and leaves good environmental policies unimplemented and people in politics left out. With environment education being disseminated into students from KG to PG, paradoxically, our elected representatives turn a blind eye to this.”
With social media abuzz with minute-long videos and digital marketing teams of various candidates or parties burning the midnight oil to keep netizens updated, young voters find themselves rather amused by the frequency of developments in their respective constituencies.
“Over the years, we have only had MGP, BJP and Congress contesting for elections. But this time, (barring 2017), we also have parties from Delhi and Bengal. The local parties like GFP and RGP, besides the independent candidates, are also likely to give tough competition to some of those contesting on big party tickets. The election this time is very exciting,” said Rajat Morajkar, 19.
“We have candidates promising us startups and industries when some villages in Goa still lack proper roads, electricity and water supply. We need a leader to help the rural women become financially independent through self-help groups, upgrade schools, and provide employment to the youth,” said Maithili Chumbalkar, a 19-year-old student who will have her index finger inked for the very first time.
Over 11.6 lakh registered voters will come out to pick Goa’s next government on Monday, of which 29,479 are first-time voters in the 18-19 years age group. These young electors have much to say about their expectations from the new representatives of the state.
“We require better facilities for transportation, medical amenities, garbage treatment, regular electricity supply, education and safe drinking water. The manifestos made by them are attractive, but there should be someone who delivers the promises. They must also be capable of balancing between environment and development,” said 18-year-old Chaitrali Kalla Naga.
Nineteen-year-old Jane De Souza said candidates must act as soon as a finger is pointed towards a problem, instead of inconveniencing citizens with several delays. “We want roads to be repaired as soon as they’re found damaged, seamless water supply and eradication of unemployment. Moreover, we want the leaders to listen to us when we reach out to them with a problem instead of casting us aside,” she said.
This is also the age group that saw large-scale participation in environmental and heritage awareness over issues pertaining to Mollem and the Old Goa heritage site.
“All parties have brought about the socio-environmental destruction of Goa,” 18-year-old, Evanthika Pereira told TOI. “Politics in the state is steeped in corruption, which leads to huge sums of money being siphoned away and leaves good environmental policies unimplemented and people in politics left out. With environment education being disseminated into students from KG to PG, paradoxically, our elected representatives turn a blind eye to this.”
With social media abuzz with minute-long videos and digital marketing teams of various candidates or parties burning the midnight oil to keep netizens updated, young voters find themselves rather amused by the frequency of developments in their respective constituencies.
“Over the years, we have only had MGP, BJP and Congress contesting for elections. But this time, (barring 2017), we also have parties from Delhi and Bengal. The local parties like GFP and RGP, besides the independent candidates, are also likely to give tough competition to some of those contesting on big party tickets. The election this time is very exciting,” said Rajat Morajkar, 19.
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