PANJIM: Almost all the political parties have tried to address the youth in their election manifestoes promising not just jobs and quality education, but even free petrol up to five litres a month. But will the goodies entice the youth vote?
While the answer to the question will be known on March 11, Goa has almost 44 percent of voters in the age group of 18 to 38 years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took an early lead in wooing the youth when it launched the scheme of free data and talk time to youth up to the age of 30 years. This is currently at a halt due to the Model Code of Conduct in force in the State in view of Assembly elections.
However, in its election manifesto, the saffron party has included the completion of educational projects like IIT and NBIT in Goa and promised to give specialised skill training to youth to make them eligible for employment at the upcoming Mopa International Airport.
Congress, taking a step forward has assured to provide five litres of petrol free to all youth every month. This is one sop that could attract a sizeable number of voters to the party. Besides, the manifesto also makes a mention of improving the mobile network, free WiFi in colleges and the University, establishing a Youth Commission, new medical and dental colleges etc.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), taking a different view, said that all political parties have cheated the youth and has now guaranteed them an unemployment allowance of Rs 5000 a month and promised to create 50,000 jobs in five years.
However, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Goa Suraksha Manch have promised skill development courses to the youth for better employment. Both parties have emphasized on promoting the IT sector, tourism and agro to make available employment for youth in the State.
The eye-catching promises made by BJP, Congress and AAP could be a deciding a factor as young voters choose which party to vote for.
The newly-formed regional outfit Goa Forward has released a special manifesto for youth which includes employment, entrepreneurship, education, sports etc. The party has assured youth that it would organize an Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival in the State and enact a new Goa Sound Act to suit the needs of locals by repealing the existing Act.
The party has proposed setting up of a skill and business development corporation and an employment promotion board to ensure 80 percent jobs for local youth as well as vertical estates for service enterprises and professionals.
BJYM, the BJP’s frontal youth organization said that only their party has given justice to youth. BJYM vice president Atmaram Barve said that most of today’s BJP leaders have come up from the youth wing and enough representation has been given by the party to youth. He said that most of the issues related to youth have been addressed by his party.
On the other hand, NSUI-Goa President Ahraz Mulla said that enough attention has not been given by political parties to issues related to the youth. He claimed that Congress party, to which the NSUI is affiliated, has given a fair space for youth in its manifesto.
However, Goa Forward Party’s young brigade feels all political parties have failed miserably in giving justice to the youth and have only used the youth as political vote bank in the past. Youth leader Tanveer Khatib said that all parties have failed to resolve the main issues of youth that is employment generation.
