Shying away from the ballot box?
VOTE TALES
On the occasion of second National Voters Day observed recently, the Election Commission lamented the indifference of young voters towards the electoral process.
Metrolife talks to youngsters about their belief and participation in the electoral process and finds that for some it is still the only tool in the hands of common man to bring about the change in society, while for others casting vote does not make any difference.
Neha Suneja, a 23-year-old professional who lives in Ghaziabad, says that after the initial enthusiasm of two or three years, her interest in voting to elect a government went down with time. “Initially, I was very excited about casting my vote but that changed with time and now I get a feeling that it will not make much of a difference,” she says.
Neha does not want to vote in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. “There is no party that deserves to win. Whether it is Mayawati or Mulayam, all are same,” she says.
And like Neha, 27-year-old professional Chayan Mandal is also indifferent towards casting his vote. “I was very excited about getting that blue mark on my finger when I voted for the first time, but after witnessing so many scams, I felt that there is no point in voting as all parties and politicians are corrupt,” he says.
But not everything is lost. There are those with strong determination to bring about a change in the society. These youngsters are brimming with hope for a better India.
Take for instance 23-year-old Sneha Swarnokar who has been casting her vote regularly. This team leader with a recruitment firm, says, “Ever since my voter card was made, I have cast my vote in every election, be it municipal or assembly. What I believe is that we are the future of this country. Our present actions will shape its future and I understand that each and every vote counts.”
Then for some like 26-year-old video editor Vaibhav Rawal, this voting business is neutral. He casts his vote as per his convenience. “I go to cast my vote quite regularly, but last time I couldn’t because I was working that day and didn’t get off. But I feel it is ok as all politicians are corrupt any way. Though, that doesn’t mean I will not vote again,” he shares.
