Jobs and education opportunities for the youth have been one of the foremost issues for any political class to attract the voters in Goa, but the youth voices are claiming that every successive governments have failed to keep the promises made prior to elections in Goa.
Lack of opportunities of education and jobs has led to the migration of Goan youth in other states and even abroad.
Many believe that young voters will play larger role in deciding the verdict of February in Goa but enough attention was not given in past by any of the political parties.
Before the 2012 elections, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) had assured that they would create 50,000 jobs for unemployed youth. They had also promised to give 3,500 to 4,500 as unemployment allowances to educated unemployed youth. But nothing has surfaced till the end of their ruling tenure but party has given more hopes through give employment through the projects cleared under Investment Promotion Board (IPB).
Goa has almost 42% of the voters in the age group of 18 – 39 which is basically broadly unaddressed by the political parties.
Every youth wing of the leading political parties in Goa feels that the youth will remain with them but no authentic answer to why they will vote for your party.
Samir Mandrekar, Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morach (BJYM) President who happens to be the son of a minister said that the schemes by BJP government of issuing free data cards and efforts to give maximum jobs to youth will increase their vote share.
He claims BJYM is the only student organization has compiled all the youth booth vise and meeting separately besides candidates campaign in all constituencies.
Whereas Ahraz Mulla President of NSUI-Goa a frontal student organization of Congress party said that the youths will vote for a party which can really keep their promise. He says the main priority for youths is job, secondly the education opportunities along with good connectivity of mobile and internet.
However, Ashish Talwar AAP’s National Media Head said that youth are more vocal and they are the one who are making a wave during the election time.
He said that AAP is also getting tremendous response from Goan youth in the election campaign. He added that the young voters will be the deciding factor for verdict of state assembly polls in Goa.
Dr Ketan Govekar, HOD of Political Science of Dempe College said that the entire 44% of the young voters may not vote in a single pattern as there are many sub division among this category of electoral.
“Actual youth is within 18 – 25 year age group who may supportive of new ideas, new parties and very forward looking but the voters from 25 – 39 age group may follow the traditional voting pattern,” Dr Govekar said.
“I don’t think so it would be major factor in terms with change the pattern,” he added.
Couple of young candidates have been seen in the list if contestants for the upcoming assembly election, will they be able to attract the young voters or not?
