In Tinsukia district of upper Assam, Ishwar Sawasi, a 22-year-old resident of Dhoedhaam Tea Estate, shared his expectations with the upcoming government in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon. As a B.A. 4th semester student at Doomdooma College, located eighteen kilometers away, Ishwar faces transportation challenges commuting to the National Highway 37 on a daily basis. Riding a bicycle to reach his college incurs a cost of 50 rupees per day for private vehicles.
Expressing his faith in India’s democratic politics, Ishwar highlighted the pressing need for addressing transportation issues faced by college-going students like himself. Hailing from a lower middle-class family, with his mother employed in a garden, Ishwar emphasized the importance of implementing ten percent reservation for tea tribes in government jobs.
Dreaming of a future career as a teacher, Ishwar’s aspirations reflect the hopes and dreams of many first-time voters in Assam. With the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 19, 2024, Ishwar’s village falls under the Lakhimpur constituency. The constituency sees Pradan Barua as the BJP candidate and Uday Shankar Hazarika representing the Congress party. In the previous Lok Sabha elections, Pradan Barua emerged victorious in securing the Lakhimpur seat.
As Assam’s first-time voters like Ishwar exercise their democratic right, they eagerly await the government’s response to their expectations. With education and employment opportunities being key concerns for the youth, the outcome of the upcoming elections holds significant implications for securing a better future and a secured life for the younger generation.
