‘I have to go from Punjab to Kanyakumari to find a job, I think what is life?’

New Delhi: The biggest festival of democracy has started from today. The voting process of the first phase of Lok Sabha elections is going on. In the first phase, voting is to be held on 102 seats in 21 states. Meanwhile, the election journey of Navbharat Times from Himsagar Express continues. In the train, the NBT team found a group of youth from Punjab who would go to Kanyakumari like me. When we started talking to them, we came to know that all these youth were going to Kanyakumari in search of jobs. A youth said that we have no expectations from the elections because the government will not fulfill our expectations. We have seen this before also. The government does not do what it should do. Good education is needed, good hospitals are needed, but no one does this.

‘I have left home for the first time to look for a job’

He said that after diploma, I am still pursuing degree studies. I have left home for the first time to look for a job. This entire group of youth is going to Kanyakumari in search of private jobs. Another youth traveling with him said that the government does not give jobs even after studying. When you go from Punjab to Kanyakumari in search of work, you feel, man, what a life. Many people of Punjab are in Australia and America. There they get free treatment and all the facilities are there. If nothing is found here then you will have to go outside. He said that look, the whole of Punjab is moving out. If government jobs are available in our Punjab, only then people will be able to stay there. He told that we also have farming but we do not get much from farming.

‘…I have to go out for a private job worth a few thousand’

Another of his colleagues said that the government is not doing the work it should do. Not only is corruption not ending in the government, work is not getting done. He says that it would be better if we get work in our own state. What is the use of the government if one has to go so far to find work? It feels good to go out somewhere for a government job, but for a private job worth a few thousand, I have to go out. He said that this time he does not feel like voting for BJP. The other one said that he saw everyone, gave everyone a chance and saw him. His fourth companion, who was silent till now, said how expensive the cylinder has become, earlier it used to cost Rs 600-700, now it is costing Rs 1400-1500. Inflation has become very high. When I said that the government is also distributing free ration, the first youth replied that we do not want free ration but jobs. We want to earn and eat ourselves.

‘…Raja’s system would have been better than this’

The second friend said that we do not want anything free, inflation should come down. We will work, buy and eat. He said that inflation has increased so much in the last 8-10 years that the thing which used to cost Rs 10 earlier is now costing Rs 25-30. Also said that inflation keeps increasing but the salaries of people in private jobs do not increase. The government should think about this. Disappointed, a young man said that the king’s system would have been better than this, the king would have kept his subjects as he wanted. Then he further said that here there are so many people under one king (PM). Even if the king is right, the people below keep troubling everyone. The number of passengers in the train has reduced after crossing Maharashtra. The AC coaches are half empty and the sleeper class is crowded only for some distance. Mostly going one or two stops. Now we have to find even those selling food or water, who earlier used to come to every coach every one-two hours.