GUWAHATI, March 28 � They are young, aware and focused. And unlike many of the candidates in fray for the Assembly poll, they appear to have a well-defined sense of priorities.
The issue of employment opportunities seems to be a common concern among most of those who have seen their friends migrate to other parts of the country in search of jobs.
�We keep reading about Govt claims in newspapers that posts have been created in this sector or that sector, but why is that in our neighbourhoods we have lots of young men and women sitting idle,� asked Dhaneswar Das, a self-employed professional. He pointed out that even from villages, those who can afford have gone out of Assam looking for greener pastures as the situation has worsened in recent times.
Rahul, an educated youth now engaged in contract work, said that the candidates should have a reality check in their own constituencies and have a plan to boost employment opportunities. �Candidates in and around Guwahati need to know how the educated unemployed can have meaningful earning opportunities,� he remarked.
Others are equally concerned about educational avenues for the large number of youths from the economically weaker sections. Asma, a young teacher, believes that candidates have to be �serious in intent and purpose to work out how best to provide education to all�.
Several other young women and men from varied backgrounds said that in recent times educational facilities of Assam have been unable to upgrade and improve their courses compared to institutions in other parts of the country. They feel that unless the aspirants in the polls are keen to take up this issue, students of Assam will get a raw deal in the near future.
For a large number of youths, it was important that only candidates free from corruption charges should be voted to power. Ajay Hazarika, chief cocoordinator of Consumer�s Legal Protection Forum said his choice of a candidate would be a person who is not corrupt, and who is committed to social uplift.
Expressing surprise over the lack of interest in environmental issues, Jyotirupa Sarma, a college teacher, said it is crucial that aspiring legislators start discussing air and water pollution along with remedial measures. �We have seen an increase in vehicular pollution in and around Guwahati, but we are yet to hear the candidates state their positions regarding this growing threat to people cutting across all divide,� she remarked.
