Young voters in Kolkata, including first-time voters, say they would cast their ballot this Lok Sabha election with the expectation that the new government would encourage start-ups and also promise cheaper education and healthcare.
While religion and political vendetta dominate debates on TV screens and phone screens, these issues hardly seem to concern the young, just like women voters in the city who, when spoken to, seemed more worried about rising prices and unemployment.
“I expect the [new] government to make changes in the current education policy. Although I like the new National Education Policy, I want it to be more practical. Secondly, there should be more merit-based opportunities for all education- and job-seekers. Thirdly, there should be expansion of Startup India scheme, with focus on start-ups in ideation stage. Fourthly, it should control inflation to put more money in the hands of the common people,” first-time voter Parrish Budhiraja, a B.Com. student at St. Xavier’s College, said.
