Dimapur, May 20 : They are young and they are angry–the positive anger, that is. They don’t believe in politicians that ‘pay the people’ to be called ‘leaders’; they no longer have the stomach for corruption, bad roads, poor electricity, backdoor appointments, bogus teachers and a myriad other diseases Nagaland has been afflicted by.
For a number of young interns learning their ropes as entrepreneurial managers with local capacity-building organization YouthNet in Kohima town, elections and voters define the future of a state, peoples and communities. That makes education of voters all the more critical and, therefore, the interns are doing their bit by visiting schools to educate students about clean elections and clean votes.
‘The Future Troopers’ are young college students who are currently interning with YouthNet, the organization informed in a message issued to the media on Friday, May 20. “Their objective is to advocate for clean elections as they are visiting various schools talking about the importance of clean elections.”
In the words of YouthNet, Noune is an 18-year old teenager who just cut her teeth for the big ballot. “I am 18 and I will be voting for the first time in 2018. There will be about 100,000 new voters and I’m excited because our votes can make a difference. I’m tired of the bad roads, poor electricity, backdoor appointments, proxy teachers and a system that only gets worse,” Noune said. “Nagaland needs a good leader, one who doesn’t need to pay people to call himself a leader.”
Another intern, Lanu, has a mind to begin with one’s self: “We need to start with ourselves, to stop being hypocrites. If there is anyone to blame it’s all of us–laziness, tribalism, favors, family pressure, clan issue. Nagaland is small yet we are divided and that creates complexity. Young students want a future which is corrupt free, merit-based, (have) better higher education and facilities like young people in other states.”
The interns are visiting schools in an endeavor to reach students with the message of clean elections and clean voters, YouthNet said. Their target is class-ix and class-xii, the age groups that would be voting for the first time in 2018.
“Our campaign is different. Young people are tired of listening to talks all the time. Our program is open discussion on challenges, issues, (and) opportunities, and making an impact. It’s based on videos, skits, discussions and ends with a lemon challenge,” the interns said.
“This is a challenge for anyone who believes in clean election and we hope to see this go viral. The message is clear. In a democracy we get the government we deserve. We are responsible.”
The interns are Himatoli, Noune, Yelika, Amenuo, Tiatuba, Whuto, Veshepa, Mhoreni, Keneichangu and Lanuyanger, YouthNet added.