Many youngsters who turned up to cast their votes for the third phase of panchayat polls on Tuesday were ignorant about the Panchayati Raj system. In their comparison the elders appeared more aware and concerned about the development of their area.
During the course of conversation with many youngsters and first time voters this correspondent realised that the many of them were least concerned about the panchayat elections. Some of them said that this is the election of the villages but almost no one was able to tell the number of positions of Panchayati Raj institutions for which the voting is being held. Pooja Mahipal of Nehrugram said that the elections are for the villages but expressed ignorance about the powers and duties of village Panchayat.
Another youngster of the same village Komal Yadav said that did not for what these elections are being held. She said that she would cast her vote as per the directive of her father. Some youngsters however appeared concerned for the development of their area, a resident of Harrawala, Neha Paras was a first time voter, she was exited and said that she is casting her vote after carefully examining all the candidates. A college student Sandeep Rawat of Samshergarh village of Doiwala block said that relations matter more than issues in the Panchayat elections. A college student and first time voter Jeewan Singh of Mianwala of Doiwala block said that to get real benefit of Panchayati Raj system the people should first be made more aware about it.