Bhubaneswar: Around 5.45 lakh first-time voters in the age group of 18-19 years have been added to the voter list this year for the general elections in Odisha.
Odisha Bytes spoke to some first-time voters who voiced their concern about the elections and about the qualities they want to see in their leaders.
Most of the young voters in Odisha expect their political leaders to focus on real issues like creating employment, farmers’ welfare and women’s safety. They also want that their leaders should be educated.
Satyajit Sahoo
“I like the NDA government more than the earlier UPA government. The NDA introduced many people-centric schemes, like Mudra Yojana, which helped the poor people a lot,” said Satyajit, a student of BJB College.
“After the NDA came to power, enemy countries have started fearing our nation. India’s response to the Pulwama attack is a case in point. India is stronger now. I want to see an NDA government at the Centre again,” he said.
On the issue of encouraging communalism, Satyajit said it should not be done. Development is possible only when all the people live in harmony, he said.
“As for the state, a change in the government would be good, said Satyajit, adding, “One government has been in power for the past 19 years and our state is still poor. Unemployment is still a pressing problem in our state. Though Odisha is rich in natural resources, people here continue to remain poor,” he said.
He also said, “We still have the Dadan (migrant labour) problem here. If the government provides employment to them, they will not have to leave the state for work.”
Lipan Hota
“Leaders should be educated. Since they are not educated, bureaucrats run the administration. If bureaucrats have to control everything, then why should we elect a leader,” asked Lipan Hota, a student of Sambad School of Media and Culture.
“For me, a leader should be elected, so that he/she can feel the real problems of the people of that area. I want a change in Odisha, as the BJD is ruling for the past 19 years. I also want a change in government at the Centre,” he said.
“We have ample mineral resources in Odisha. They should be properly used. Odisha should be in number one position in this sector,” he further said.
Besides, political leaders should focus on the preservation of our monuments and maintenance of tourist places, Lipan said.
Instead of giving freebies, the government should give employment opportunities according to educational qualifications. “This way, the poverty problem can be solved automatically,” he said.
Monalisha Mohanty
Political leaders should reach the people directly and quickly to help them. But they come at the time of election only, said Monalisha, a student of BJB College.
“I do not want a change in Odisha. The Naveen Patnaik government is transparent,” she said.
Monalisha also said that political parties should not fight among themselves. Their ultimate aim should be the welfare of the common people.
Aparnna Priyadarshini
“Both the governments, in the state and at the Centre, should be changed. Our state should be developed. Our government should provide employment opportunities, instead of giving freebies,” said Aparnna, a student of Rama Devi University.
The political leaders who rule us should be strong. They should help poor people. They should also encourage the youth, she added.
Suraj Kumar Mallick
The government in the state should be changed. The governments both in the state and at the Centre should bring long-term schemes. Instead of giving money under KALIA Yojana, the state should provide irrigation facilities, so that the problems faced by farmers are solved permanently.
“Our leaders should be educated and transparent. They should be corruption-free,” said Suraj, a student of Sambad School of Media and Culture.
“Crime rate, snatching are also increasing day by day in Bhubaneswar. Our leaders should take steps on these problems to reduce the crime rate,” he said.
Subhasmita Behera
The government in the state should be changed. But we do not have a good substitute for the current government, said Subhasmita, a student of Sambad School of Media and Culture.
“Our leaders should be educated and corruption-free,” she said. The leaders should go to the common people directly.
The leaders should find out the root cause of problems faced by people in Odisha, like poverty and unemployment. Then the problems will be solved.
The schemes in Odisha should be implemented properly, she added.
Swaraj Kumar Mallick
Political leaders of each and every party should be educated first. How can an uneducated person rule the state, asked Swaraj, an M Tech student.
Leaders, both in the state and at the Centre, should think about the development of society.
In Odisha, the government should be changed. “If the government changes, we can analyse whether 19 years of the BJD government has been successful. We can compare,” said Swaraj.
The government should not make the people lazy by giving freebies. Rather it should give employment opportunities, he said.
He also said the government at the Centre should not be changed. “We have seen more development under NDA than under UPA,” Swaraj said.
Jyoti Ranjan Mohanty
The BJD has undertaken a lot of development work for the people of Odisha in the last 19 years. I am not in favour of a change of guard, either in the state or at the Centre, said Jyoti Ranjan, a B Tech student.
“Our leaders should understand the real problems in their localities as well as in the state. Only then can they take proper steps,” said Jyoti Ranjan.
