According to the 2011 census, the population of youths aged 20 to 34 in Nagaland is roughly 26.8% as computed from Statistics Time’s data. And, as Nagaland prepares for its General Assembly Election on February 27, many young people are eager to use their right to vote while many are nonchalant about it.
Yanger, 23, a student at People’s College Mokokchung, told Mokokchung Times, “We have been reading about the adult franchise since we were young, and as someone who has studied the importance of it, I will be exercising my right as stipulated in the constitution.”
Responding to what he will be voting for, he said, “Unemployment is the largest concern. I desire that this time even the smallest grade post such as peons and chowkidar be created through competition.”
“At the moment, the road for Kohima, Dimapur and other highways are being developed but I wish they will make those roads that are elsewhere too and establish better connectivity within distant communities and urban areas.”
“I also hope they would prioritize fundamental requirements such as water pipelines,” he remarked.
“Another very vital issue is, it is essential to utilize advanced technology in the college classrooms like smart boards for better access to education.”
“If given the opportunity, I would love to meet with the candidate and set out such requests,” he added.
Salong, a 22-year-old Nagaland University student, stated that the election atmosphere is still ‘calm’ among his friends. However, he aspires for a visionary leader – someone who thinks about society rather than himself.
“I wish for a leader who will lead us without corruption. For example, if a development occurs, people should not consider themselves but rather the larger good. The Center has been sending us a lot of funds and projects to help our state, but unfortunately, there has been a practice of putting it into our pockets – and as a result, we frequently find that most of the projects and development that come our way are either incomplete or have not yielded the desired results. This has been the greatest reason why we have not been able to progress and reach the heights of other societies,” he said.
“As a result, we require a vibrant, visionary leader who will do the right thing for a brighter tomorrow.”
When asked if he is satisfied with the intending candidates that have been fielded so far, he said, “I cannot say anything on that because, India’s democracy has it that whenever they are campaigning for election, they make lots of promises about development and stuffs but we see that when they do come to power, they do not make their promises happen.”
“At this moment, I’m not sure how I feel about any of them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Akangtoshi, 24, stated that he will vote for the second time and feels that votes are not for sale, adding that ‘even though it is free, we cannot buy it’.
“We should remember that when we cast a vote, we are selecting a leader for our future. Our vote is a weapon, and we must not abuse it,” he stressed.
He went on to say that now is the moment to give new leaders an opportunity because old folks are still entrenched in their old ways.
“We have a lot of issues when it comes to choosing whom to vote for because, regrettably, we see that in a lot of communities, due to community influence, our ability to exercise our voting rights becomes no longer free,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Moasenla, 22, revealed that she will vote for the first time this year. However, she observed that many young female voters are not enthused about their voting rights, assuming that it is because “men have historically dominated the political arena.”
Ayusang, 24, says that many young voters, especially female voters, possibly shy away from expressing their rights as “elections and politics have frequently been branded as dirty.”
She stated she will be voting for the second time and hopes to vote for someone who will “fulfill our ambitions and not wish for their own pockets.”
Most young voters, particularly female students, claimed that they have “no idea whom to vote for,” adding that they have “little to no interest in politics.”