“We face a lot of problems. I find there are not many woman candidates, if there is no sufficient representation for woman in the Parliament, who will speak for them? I don’t believe in party politics. I try to gather information about the candidate in my constituency and want him to address my grievances,” says J. Sukanya, a Chartered accountant student from Tirunagar. Sukanya is just one of the many women who are speaking up for change. They are aware of the political climate in the country and are active on social networks. They do not hesitate to register their protests or their aspirations. And they refuse to be taken in by false promises and empty rhetoric.
“We don’t want any freebies but free education for all,” says R. Hamsapriya, III B.Sc. Physics student of Madura College. Coming from Kovalan Nagar, she feels that reservation should be based on economic status and not on caste. “I would vote for a person who favours a law that will punish parents who prevent girl children from pursuing higher studies,” she says.
From industrialisation and safety of women to uninterrupted electricity and drinking water supply women are clear about their needs and expect the elected member to find immediate solutions to these problems. Many of them believe that the Aam Aadmi Party holds out some hope with its ‘corruption-free’ tagline. Many of them believe that AAP will provide clean governance.
D. Malarvizhi, M.A. Tamil student of Madurai Kamaraj University who hails from Keezhakuilkudi wants the lot of girls in her village to be improved. They are denied opportunity to go for higher studies. “The hardship we undergo is difficult to put into words,” she says. “I am a fatherless child and my sisters are not educated. I travel to Madurai for my studies. If I complain of eve teasing to my mother it is the end of my studies. The elders will immediately get me married. I want my elected representative to understand our problems and provide protection, so that parents can gain confidence to send us out for higher studies. I believe only the Communist Party can address our problems and my vote is for them,” she says.
“I will vote for the person who ensures uninterrupted water and power supply, says M. Krithiga, II B.A. English, Lady Doak College.
K. Sivaranjani, a law student is sceptical. She says electoral promises stay alive till the polls are over and after that the member conveniently forgets them. Hailing from Watrap, Sivaranjani says voters should have the right to oust representatives immediately if they fail to fulfil their promise. “It is my vote, my right and my society and if I find my representative inactive, I should have the right to expel him immediately,” she says.
Aparna Sripreethi. K, III B.A. English, Fatima College says elected representatives are not showpieces. “He should be one among us and should work hard for the industrial development in this district and pave the way for more employment.”
