Soon after completing the final year Intermediate public examinations about two weeks ago, Ganesh (name changed) had decided to take up the part-time job offered by an event management firm. He was supposed to be a member of a troop performing dance, which he enjoys, at parties managed by it.
Basic tasks
But as the pace of the election campaign picked up, he got wind of candidates hiring youngsters as foot soldiers doing basic tasks like flag bearers, activists and perform other tasks and took up one.
A couple of weeks later, he now has ample pocket money which he earned by walking along different candidates in the East and the Central constituencies.
Many youngsters who otherwise take up part-time summer jobs during the long holiday are into campaigning for various candidates who pay a decent amount.
“I take part in the campaign in the morning and evening and am paid ₹400 per day. In addition, we are offered breakfast and dinner,” Ganesh says. “Though it is not a decent office job, in just 10 days I was able to earn an amount equal to what I could have at a usual part-time job in a month. Also, it is a chance to closely observe politicians.” He also roped in his friend who came back home recently after completing his apprenticeship, part of his degree course, in a far off city. Almost all candidates have been hiring youngsters on a daily basis for public meetings and door-to-door campaigns. Youngsters with motorcycles get good pay and fuel but bike rallies are not a daily feature. In one programme attended by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in the city, about 5,000 youth took part in such a rally, according to the announcement made by the candidate while appreciating the organisers.
Disparity
While the youth are paid the highest amount, women are paid the lowest, ₹200, depending on various factors like the duration of the programme, distance to be travelled and others. “A majority of the flag bearers do it for pay. In addition, a large number of women and men are being roped in to fill the space at meetings but are paid less,” said a member of election expenditure observer’s flying squad on condition of anonymity.
