The elections are around the corner. The audio levels have increased and there is a great deal of speculation as to who will go with whom and importantly what will they all do once they get elected. In all this the youth of the state are watching it all with great interest. They are tracking developments, statements made by politicians and making decisions. They are also much more assertive and interested in ensuring Goa develops in a manner that does not end up destroying its flora and fauna and importantly the harmony enjoyed by everyone still remains strong.
Abisha Fernandes, a student pointed out that
elections were very important but fraud was being committed everywhere, every
time in the name of development. She felt not even a single politician was
sincere and working for society. She said “We should elect a good person, who
thinks about education and employment. We should not look at any party. Any
elected politician should work for society and not for the money. I wish more
and more young and educated youth will come forward in the political field and
work for the society and betterment of the community”. Pritesh Patil, another
college student, felt the youth were being misled by the power holders. He said
“The young mind is manipulated in order to get jobs. We as youth should use our
brains to get ourselves employed and not depend on such promises. Participating
in the "festival of election" is compulsory as to select the right
candidate meanwhile don't let yourself get carried away with "1,000 -
500" per day”.
Joanne Da Cunha, a young actress pointed out something that was
needed so desperately by the youth. She said “I feel that the youth of today
want jobs, but they also want to be enterprising and productive, and hence want
an economic environment that gives incentives for this. Also, they would not
like any communal or religious prejudices to be played up, since there is a
strong fraternal feeling among them, irrespective of religion. As a young
person, I'm not specific on which party I'll vote for in the forthcoming state
elections. I just hope to see that the MLA that I elect is active in the
assembly, is capable and does things as part of a 5-year plan and not last
minute just to win votes. For instance, it would be sad to have a political
party which would just do bare necessities like road work a few months
beforehand to win votes”.
The very scholarly Moses Pinto pointed out that at present 34
percent of the state’s population was made up by millenials i.e. people
typically born between the mid- 1990s to the mid-2000s. This generation wanted
a modern and technologically advanced Goa. The baby boomer generation and the
GenX which included people born in 1946 to 1964 and between 1965 to 1980
respectively represented a class of people who desired stable governance.
Consistency was the norm and the electorate would always remain satisfied with
Government inaction even though it was relabelled as a stable government which
enjoyed the confidence of the majority. He said “With the advent of social
media and instant digital communication propagating public dissent towards
governance practises openly and freely, an era of modernity in expression has
been ushered in, which now forms the basis for transparency in governance. This
new generation of voters who compose 440 million members of the Indian
electorate nationally, are decisive, discreet and by no means subtle about
their demands from the elected representatives. An expectation which I have
observed to resonate amongst the youth is the imminent need for E-Governance
that is highly interactive and responsive to the glowing climate of technological
advancement that Goa is witnessing at an increasing pace. Hopefully, with the
upcoming elections in the state, the new government will ensure that it
responds to the legitimate expectations responsibly and definitively”. Ester
Noronha, an actress, felt that in the current situation it was very crucial to
have the right kind of government to take the right decisions and run the state
in the most ethical and efficient way. She said “Goa is in need of it more than
ever. I can see that the youth is really getting aware, concerned and involved
which is the need of the hour and a very good development. I too am looking
forward to justice to happen and good administration to prevail this time.”
She
is a beauty queen as well as importantly a teacher who has a ringside view of
what the youth are thinking. Sevana Jacques pointed out that today’s youth was
undoubtedly the future of tomorrow. She said “ The youth of Goa are looking for
a change in the political field they want a revolution they want a change,
there are no jobs, the youth of Goa are tired of unemployment, very few youth
of Goa have diversified into business, many of the youth has entrepreneurial
qualities in them but are not able to start their own enterprise because of
lack of financial support, many Goan youth have managed to start their own
enterprises and are successful in their new ventures, some have fallen prey to
political pressure and have given up their ventures. Goan youth today is
looking out for a government that will support the development of their future,
starting more and more educational institutions in vocational fields that will
prepare the Goa youth for life and give them new ideas, the youth of Goa want
communal harmony that is and was existing for years”. The always opinionated
Shimron Nathan, a college student said “The youth make a strong community when
they put their mind to it. With regards to elections I believe the youth have
very strong opinions individually and when opinions come together it makes a
bunch of stubborn freshly graduated teens. Along with this assertiveness, my
thoughts on these states' elections are always the same. I often think
elections in general are like show-and-tell in school but the same way school
gets over so does show-and-tell.” Well that was a glimpse into the thoughts of
the youth in Goa. One can only hope they cast their vote after considerable
thought. Because in that lies the future of Goa.