What the Youth want

YP Foundation - Monday, January 12, 2009 1:36 PM लीव MINT
We conducted a survey among people in the age group of 18 to 25 to see what were the issues that were most important to them in an Election. This is what we found out:
24% give attention to Infrastructure,social and institutional development. 21% were concerned about Terrorism and security 16% placed the Economy at the top of the list 8% would vote based on the secular and communal agenda of parties alike. The remaining believed all were important to list in order of preference. The survey was conducted in September 2008. No doubts the events after that would have changed people's priorities, but what are the issues that concern the youth? On what basis do the youth vote? is the pattern same for State elections and General Elections?
Development, no doubt plays the most important role in State elections. How else would one explain Sheila Dikshit being elected for the third time in Delhi, Narendra Modi in Gujarat and Shivraj Chauhan in madhya Pradesh? While overall development is a central issue, the provision of water, electricity, roads, bridges , public transport all lie with the state. The youth today want to see development, they want to see their lives getting better, they want to see traffic moving smoothly, they want to have electricity and water 24/7.
It is not ideologies that matter, or basic mudslinging that political parties love indulging in. It is the on ground improvement in their lives that matters the most. This is an issue that plays out at a state and central level elections. The events of 26 November, 2008 changed an entire perception of how we viewed our security. The most up market places were attacked, giving everyone the notion that no place, including your house is safe. For the first time we saw crowds coming out in large numbers and venting anger against politicians, united.
But can this anger translate into a vote? This is yet to be seen. While terrorism would be a national issue, security especially in the city would be a state issue. Murder, theft, rape and molestation are all crimes investigated by the state police. The state of security in the city, especially for women is a one of the factors that would have an impact on how we would vote. Most of us use public transport - bus,metro,local train, taxi,auto. Bombs have been placed in buses,taxis and autos. The metro has additional security, which inspite of checking, seems rather lapse at times. We need to be safe no matter where we are, in markets, on public transport or in our own homes. Anyone who can give us security seems to be a preferred choice.
With the global economic downturn, and the liquidity crises, it has hit the youth in a major way. College placements and the offer packages have been hit severely. The pay packages have reduced and the jobs available are much lesser in comparison to last year, if not available at all. Many college fests faced a shortage of funds, due to lack of sponsorships. Those organizing fests have had a harrowing time finding sponsors with almost every prospective sponsor having no money .
The state of economy is no doubt one of the most important issues, if not the most at this point of time. Very few pay attention to ideologies of political parties. But ultimately our personal views tend to be similar to those of a party. The way we vote also depends upon our beliefs,convictions and biases. Do we want a secular government? A right wing government or left wing? Even these factors influence our vote, acting as a bias at times. These are a few issues that concern the youth. What are issues that matter to you when you go to cast your vote this year? Write to us and let us know.