DIBRUGARH, March 30 � Young voters here want a corrupt-free and competent government which can generate ample job opportunities for them, check price rise and accelerate infrastructural development in the region. A few new voters, who were interviewed by this correspondent during the �Walk for Democracy� event on Saturday, revealed what they expect from their leaders.
Most of the first-time voters between the age group of 18-24 years rued the huge financial scams in the country, price rise of essential commodities and the �stepmotherly attitude� of the Centre towards the Northeastern region. The first-time voters, who will exercise their franchise here in the first phase of the ensuing General Elections on April 7, told this correspondent that they are looking forward to the formation of a vibrant government.
Parikshit Konda, an MA (Economics) student of the Dibrugarh University and an active volunteer of the Civil Defence here, said that he wants a corrupt-free government. He is against the election of any inefficient leader or party.
Anamika Deb, a fourth semester student of Manohari Devi Kanoi Girls� College, will also cast her vote for the first time in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. �I feel proud to be a voter and a citizen of the country. Now I can take part in electing a leader of my choice,� she said.
Asked what kind of a government she expected, Anamika said the government must be able to check violence against women, end corruption, uplift the poor sections of the society like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and provide jobs to the unemployed. Anamika suggested that there should be a change of either the government or the leadership.
First-time voters Komal Shahai and Suman Kumari of Shree Bharati College here also echoed similar views. In their opinion, corruption and black money are two menaces which should be eliminated for the sake of better governance. Gaurav Choudhury of DHSK Commerce College, however, had a different view.
�The country cannot afford to have a different government every time. The change of government means the change of policies and the change of schemes. Under such circumstances, a country cannot progress. The vision and mission of a government must be allowed to continue for some period to track the results,� he said, adding that the youth empowerment programme envisaged by Rahul Gandhi must be welcomed.
Sunny Rai, another first-time voter from DHSK Commerce College, hopes that the new government would provide him a job as soon he graduates from the college. Airing similar views, Sangeeta Kandha and Nayanjyoti Dutta of Dibrugarh Polytechnic said that only the most deserving candidate would get their votes.
As part of the Election Commission�s endeavour to create awareness among the voters, especially the new ones, for their active participation in the electoral process for a stronger democracy, the district administration in associaltion with the Election Department and the Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) organized the �Walk for Democracy� programme, which began from the Old Government Boys� High School ground to the Chowkidinghee Field.
The programme was attended by students from the Dibrugarh University, Assam Medical College, Polytechnic and other colleges and schools of the city. Streetplays and the oath to participate in the election process was a part of the event.
