Lok Sabha Election 2024: Youth Manifesto
They are the future of this state and country. In their hands will be the reins of tomorrow. Ahead of the first phase of polling for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha, 9 young and bright first-time voters put forward their views on issues like employment, health, education and reservation at a roundtable organised by The Times of India. Over to them…
SMRUTI SONAM (19) | BBA student
As a first-time voter I have many expectations from the govts at the Centre and state.Despite the development activities of both govts, there is ample scope for improvement in all sectors. Given that a large population of India is below the age of 30, education, skill development and employment should be the main concerns. I am pursuing BBA, but if someone asks me what I will do after this, then I become clueless. Our education system should be more explorative and must bring out the best in a student. Those who get elected must focus on internships and skilling of students and create more opportunities for them, both in govt and private sectors. Election is the time when these issues are raised and voters can put forward these questions to the candidates — what they have done so far and what they plan to do. I believe the discourse on these issues should not end with polls but should continue till the next election, so that there are checks and balances.
JYOTIRADITYA CHAKRABARTY (18) | Class XII student
There has been development in various sectors, but the growth is not uniform. Development seems more for the privileged while the poor continue to suffer. Development is limited to urban areas while people in rural areas are still deprived of basic amenities. Unemployment rate is also very high in rural areas. People are still going to other states in search of jobs. Job opportunities should be created with a regional focus so that the youths get employed in their region without migrating to big cities or other states. I also think environment should be a poll issue. It is time political parties should talk about climate change and the impact it has on our lives.
AKANKHYA DHUPEL (21) | BTech student
India is lagging behind in providing jobs to youths. According to a report of the International Labour Organisation, the unemployment rate among university graduates in India was 29% in 2022, while the unemployment rate was nine times higher among diploma holders. Govt must focus on creating more jobs in the service sector. At the same time, there should be a change in mindset and more people should think of entrepreneurship. In the last few years, we have seen growth in startups. Today, there are many schemes to encourage a startup, and youths must take benefit of these initiatives. There is a great irony in the health sector. On one hand, the govt is paying a high salary to doctors in state-run hospitals. On the other hand, govt is bearing the cost of treatment of the poor in private hospitals. I think corruption should also be a poll issue. I will go through the manifestos of the political parties and decide on whom to vote for after gauging the sincerity of their promises.
HARISH PANDA (20) | BTech student
First of all, I request everyone to cast their vote by taking part in the festival of democracy. There should be ground-level implementation of schemes. For a particular job, particular skills are required. Govt should create more jobs as per the skillset of the people. Those elected must ensure that policies should be implemented at the ground level and infrastructure is improved. When we vote, we must look at the local candidate, if he/she has done what had been promised as well as his/her integrity. Our country has passed through so many challenges like Covid-19 and recession. Despite that, we continue to make strides in all sectors. We are shifting to biofuels and green hydrogen and renewable energy to meet electricity requirements. In the last 5 years, 16 new AIIMS have been set up and through govt initiatives, healthcare expenses of people have reduced substantially.
SAI SREERUPA MOHAPATRA (18) | Class XII student
The middle class forms the backbone of a country’s economy. They must not feel overlooked and there should be policies acknowledging their contribution. I hope the govt manages to fix the paper leak problem faced by the education system. There should be credibility in the education system and govt must ensure fairness. There should be enough employment opportunities for the youth and vacancies in govt jobs should be filled up. At the same time, govt should also focus on poor and lower sections of the society, ensure education, health, and jobs for them. Being a first-time voter, I would also like to see more youths and fresh faces without criminal records entering politics.
AMLAN KUMAR PARHI (22) | BCom student
Though India and Odisha have made steady progress in health, education and employment, I hope and expect the govts to provide better job opportunities to the youths in the coming days. The current job market is very unstable, which I wish will improve in the days to come. Neither the educated nor the semi-literate have enough job opportunities. Govt should focus on policies to create more jobs for the poor and lower middle class. Despite economic growth, employment rate in the country continues to be low. The govt should not wait for the existing education policy to get outdated before working on the next policy. Govt must implement the National Education Policy without further delay and ensure a holistic approach to education with skill and vocational training for the youth. Youths should get jobs as per their skills, so it is important for the govt to spend on improving the level of education and creating jobs. In the health sector, the govt should focus on ensuring proper infrastructure for every section of society.
PRITISH DAS (23) | BTech student
Education system is in a mess in India. Out of every 100 engineering students, at least 50 join the course due to family pressure, while 30 enroll as they don’t know what to study. It is only about 20 who follow their passion. We cannot blame the govt for rising unemployment. It is skill which is important. After getting their engineering degrees, many don’t know what they did all these years and end up doing something else. The National Education Policy, which put thrust on bridging the talent-skill gap, must be implemented at the earliest. I strongly feel that the caste-based reservation system needs to be restructured and it should be given based on a family’s economic status. We must keep in mind that for a successful democracy we need a strong opposition that would highlight the lapses in governance. Competition is very important in politics to provide good governance to the people.
LIPSA MOHAPATRA (22) | PG student
There is a need for inclusive growth in all sectors. We need more investment in the education sector and vocational training that align with the needs of industries and help in creating jobs for the youth. To meet the current market demands, there should be a collaboration between academic institutes and industries. There should be more internship programmes to provide hands-on training and bridge the gap between theory and practice. The govt should also focus on resource management and invest in green initiatives. Apart from voting for a candidate keeping the nation’s growth in mind, I would also want the candidate to keep his/ her words and be there for the people of his/ her constituency. The person must raise people’s issues in Parliament and assembly and come up with solutions.
AYUSHA NAIK (22) | PG student
Come elections, politicians make big promises. But once the elections are over, they disappear. People must be aware of their rights and realise the power of their vote. Policies and schemes that candidates promise should not remain on paper. Rather, they must ensure that the benefits reach the people at the grassroots level, particularly the poor and the underprivileged. The govt should form policies keeping in mind the needs and challenges of the people. Various steps like subsidies, targeted assistance programmes, educational initiatives and job opportunities should have an equitable distribution and help reduce the socioeconomic disparities. However, we see many of the programmes ending up being mere announcements and hardly bringing any significant change in the lives of the people. So, voters must select their candidates wisely.
SMRUTI SONAM (19) | BBA student
As a first-time voter I have many expectations from the govts at the Centre and state.Despite the development activities of both govts, there is ample scope for improvement in all sectors. Given that a large population of India is below the age of 30, education, skill development and employment should be the main concerns. I am pursuing BBA, but if someone asks me what I will do after this, then I become clueless. Our education system should be more explorative and must bring out the best in a student. Those who get elected must focus on internships and skilling of students and create more opportunities for them, both in govt and private sectors. Election is the time when these issues are raised and voters can put forward these questions to the candidates — what they have done so far and what they plan to do. I believe the discourse on these issues should not end with polls but should continue till the next election, so that there are checks and balances.
JYOTIRADITYA CHAKRABARTY (18) | Class XII student
There has been development in various sectors, but the growth is not uniform. Development seems more for the privileged while the poor continue to suffer. Development is limited to urban areas while people in rural areas are still deprived of basic amenities. Unemployment rate is also very high in rural areas. People are still going to other states in search of jobs. Job opportunities should be created with a regional focus so that the youths get employed in their region without migrating to big cities or other states. I also think environment should be a poll issue. It is time political parties should talk about climate change and the impact it has on our lives.
AKANKHYA DHUPEL (21) | BTech student
India is lagging behind in providing jobs to youths. According to a report of the International Labour Organisation, the unemployment rate among university graduates in India was 29% in 2022, while the unemployment rate was nine times higher among diploma holders. Govt must focus on creating more jobs in the service sector. At the same time, there should be a change in mindset and more people should think of entrepreneurship. In the last few years, we have seen growth in startups. Today, there are many schemes to encourage a startup, and youths must take benefit of these initiatives. There is a great irony in the health sector. On one hand, the govt is paying a high salary to doctors in state-run hospitals. On the other hand, govt is bearing the cost of treatment of the poor in private hospitals. I think corruption should also be a poll issue. I will go through the manifestos of the political parties and decide on whom to vote for after gauging the sincerity of their promises.
HARISH PANDA (20) | BTech student
First of all, I request everyone to cast their vote by taking part in the festival of democracy. There should be ground-level implementation of schemes. For a particular job, particular skills are required. Govt should create more jobs as per the skillset of the people. Those elected must ensure that policies should be implemented at the ground level and infrastructure is improved. When we vote, we must look at the local candidate, if he/she has done what had been promised as well as his/her integrity. Our country has passed through so many challenges like Covid-19 and recession. Despite that, we continue to make strides in all sectors. We are shifting to biofuels and green hydrogen and renewable energy to meet electricity requirements. In the last 5 years, 16 new AIIMS have been set up and through govt initiatives, healthcare expenses of people have reduced substantially.
SAI SREERUPA MOHAPATRA (18) | Class XII student
The middle class forms the backbone of a country’s economy. They must not feel overlooked and there should be policies acknowledging their contribution. I hope the govt manages to fix the paper leak problem faced by the education system. There should be credibility in the education system and govt must ensure fairness. There should be enough employment opportunities for the youth and vacancies in govt jobs should be filled up. At the same time, govt should also focus on poor and lower sections of the society, ensure education, health, and jobs for them. Being a first-time voter, I would also like to see more youths and fresh faces without criminal records entering politics.
AMLAN KUMAR PARHI (22) | BCom student
Though India and Odisha have made steady progress in health, education and employment, I hope and expect the govts to provide better job opportunities to the youths in the coming days. The current job market is very unstable, which I wish will improve in the days to come. Neither the educated nor the semi-literate have enough job opportunities. Govt should focus on policies to create more jobs for the poor and lower middle class. Despite economic growth, employment rate in the country continues to be low. The govt should not wait for the existing education policy to get outdated before working on the next policy. Govt must implement the National Education Policy without further delay and ensure a holistic approach to education with skill and vocational training for the youth. Youths should get jobs as per their skills, so it is important for the govt to spend on improving the level of education and creating jobs. In the health sector, the govt should focus on ensuring proper infrastructure for every section of society.
PRITISH DAS (23) | BTech student
Education system is in a mess in India. Out of every 100 engineering students, at least 50 join the course due to family pressure, while 30 enroll as they don’t know what to study. It is only about 20 who follow their passion. We cannot blame the govt for rising unemployment. It is skill which is important. After getting their engineering degrees, many don’t know what they did all these years and end up doing something else. The National Education Policy, which put thrust on bridging the talent-skill gap, must be implemented at the earliest. I strongly feel that the caste-based reservation system needs to be restructured and it should be given based on a family’s economic status. We must keep in mind that for a successful democracy we need a strong opposition that would highlight the lapses in governance. Competition is very important in politics to provide good governance to the people.
LIPSA MOHAPATRA (22) | PG student
There is a need for inclusive growth in all sectors. We need more investment in the education sector and vocational training that align with the needs of industries and help in creating jobs for the youth. To meet the current market demands, there should be a collaboration between academic institutes and industries. There should be more internship programmes to provide hands-on training and bridge the gap between theory and practice. The govt should also focus on resource management and invest in green initiatives. Apart from voting for a candidate keeping the nation’s growth in mind, I would also want the candidate to keep his/ her words and be there for the people of his/ her constituency. The person must raise people’s issues in Parliament and assembly and come up with solutions.
AYUSHA NAIK (22) | PG student
Come elections, politicians make big promises. But once the elections are over, they disappear. People must be aware of their rights and realise the power of their vote. Policies and schemes that candidates promise should not remain on paper. Rather, they must ensure that the benefits reach the people at the grassroots level, particularly the poor and the underprivileged. The govt should form policies keeping in mind the needs and challenges of the people. Various steps like subsidies, targeted assistance programmes, educational initiatives and job opportunities should have an equitable distribution and help reduce the socioeconomic disparities. However, we see many of the programmes ending up being mere announcements and hardly bringing any significant change in the lives of the people. So, voters must select their candidates wisely.
