Die shouldn’t be caste, say students
Young students of Oxford of the East feel development is the core issue in UP assembly election
ALLAHABAD: The warmth of the sun on a late winter afternoon almost matched the heat of the political debate on a lush green lawn of Allahabad Central University.
Young minds dissected a range of old and new poll issues at Campus Adda conducted by Hindustan Times. Allahabad goes to poll in the fourth phase of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh assembly election on February 23.
Their well thought-out views were not surprising. After all, Allahabad University students are considered more politically aware than their counterparts elsewhere in the state.
Despite ideological differences, the youngsters were united on the core issue of development, which they said will decide the fate of all political parties in the election.
MIXED RESPONSE TO DEMONETISATION
While most of the students supported demonetisation by the Modi government, some of them had a completely different view on the issue. Pro-demonetisation students stressed that the move controlled black money and stopped the influx of counterfeit currency notes from across the border. Demonetisation exposed the illgotten money of tax evaders, corrupt officials and politicians, they said.
The problems faced by people in the country were too small if compared to the benefits, said Harsh, an undergraduate student.
Harsh’s colleague Vinay said that BJP will lose votes due to the recall of high-value currency notes. Lakhs of people lost their jobs as small scale industries were hit hard, he added.
‘DON’T IGNORE THE HONEST’
All students agreed that giving weightage to caste and community while choosing a candidate hindered development of the state. Honest and deserving candidates were sidelined, said Rohit, an undergraduate student. People should avoid casting their vote on basis of their caste and instead choose candidates and parties which were serious about bringing development, he said.
RESERVATION OPPOSED
A section of students said the system of job reservation was becoming a scourge for the country. Bright students were becoming frustrated when they had to face failure in competitive exams due to reservation, remarked Anjali, a BA second year student of AU. The criterion for reservation should be based on economic factors and not caste, Anjali added. Her colleague Chandan argued that many of the tribals and dalits who were earlier doomed to live in poverty and illiteracy were in government jobs and had joined the mainstream due to reservation.
SAFETY OF WOMEN
The students said though the Samajwadi Party government’s women powerline had assisted many women in warding off stalkers and eve teasers, more steps were needed in this direction. Measures which made a woman feel safe outdoors even at midnight, should be taken, demanded Ashvi, a BA student. Political parties should increase representation of women in politics and fix a quota for them while distributing tickets, she added. More schemes focused on empowering women should be introduced, she said.
BETTER HIGHER EDUCATION, JOBS
All students expressed dissatisfaction over the opportunities of higher education and jobs in the state. Governments encouraged private institutions providing higher education but failed to regulate their hefty fee structure and quality of education, the students alleged.
Most of the families in the state were not in a position to afford costly education for their children. Higher education for students who could not clear entrance exam to government institutions should be made cheaper, demanded Anshi, a student of economics at Allahabad University.
‘SITUATION ALARMING IN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES’
The students said the Samajwadi ambulance service was a milestone in health services in the state. But the condition of government hospitals was terrible. No government had ever taken strong measures to improve hospital facilities, they said. The situation was more alarming at primary health centres in remote villages where doctors were often found absent during surprise inspections by authorities, said BA first year stu- dent Hema who belongs to a village in Allahabad.
STATE IN NEED OF YOUNG LEADERS
All political parties should now stop the practice of giving tickets to tainted candidates as their days were now numbered, warned Shraddha, a BA third year student. Leaders with their gun-totting supporters did not appeal to the voters now, she said. Instead, young leaders were needed who were easily available and interacted with the people regularly, Shraddha added. The law and order situation has been a major concern in the state. Law enforcement agencies should be provided with more hi-tech equipment to deal with hardcore criminals, said Vikas, a BA student.