On the eve of the assembly elections in Ghaziabad, City Spidey caught up with youths going to get their fingers inked in election dye for the first time.
Here’s what they had to say:
Digjaya Dhawan, a 22-year-old resident of ATS Advantage in Indirapuram, said, “Safety for women and the development of education infrastructure should be the key points that the representatives of people must bear in mind. Also, short-term development, such as offering laptops, is not the solution — these initiatives need the sufficient support infrastructure to succeed.”
She added, “I didn’t have a voter card earlier, as I was in Tamil Nadu pursuing my engineering course. This year, I got my card made and I am excited to cast my vote after 11 am tomorrow."
Aditi Miglani, an 18-year-old journalism student from Shipra Krishna Vista in Indirapuram, echoed similar concerns. She said she had been closely following poll candidates and that she would cast her vote carefully.
Making her point, Miglani said, “The representatives must focus on women’s safety and stricter traffic rules. Development of connectivity in the city is another important aspect. I travel to my college in Delhi every day and have to change multiple modes of conveyance before reaching my destination.”
Shaurya Chauhan, a B Com student and a resident of Sanjay Nagar, felt the elected representatives must create a positive environment for employment growth in the city. “We have been following the candidates, and often indulge in discussions and debate. Sometimes, we think we should opt for NOTA, but then again we change our minds," Chauhan said, looking rather confused.
Tanvi Chaudhary, a 19-year-old B Com student from Gaur Green Vista, too, felt safety for women should be prioritised, besides creating employment opportunities. She said, “I have been following their canvassing — their speeches and their agendas — and have made up my mind. I turned 18 recently and this will be my first time voting, Many of my friends who are not yet of voting age are quite jealous that I get to vote.”
Imdad Ahmed, a 19-year-old from Kavi Nagar who is planning to start his own business, said his demands and expectations were quite simple — it’s development for all. “I would like my leader to think about healthcare and transport. And although Ghaziabad comes within the NCR, it's way behind Delhi in these fields. We want the same facilities as Delhi,” he added.
However, there were many, such as Atin Singhal, a 19-year-old student from ATS Advantage, who failed to get their names enrolled on the voter list this year, despite completing all formalities.
Singhal rued, “I am pretty upset that my name is not there on the list, despite filling up the form twice — once online and once on a hard copy. But I still can't vote. Almost all my friends are voting. I feel left out."
