Voting is underway in Mumbai on Monday for the Lok Sabha Election 2024 on six seats – Mumbai North, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai South Central and Mumbai South. As Mumbai casts its vote, the youth have their priorities set about what they expect from their leaders.
The Youth Manifesto, a document prepared over one and a half years by speaking to youth across all six parliamentary constituencies and 36 assemblies speaks about three critical domains: environment, health, and city, which have highlights of what the city expects from their elected representatives. The manifesto was prepared by the NGO Mark Your Presence.
Demands
According to the research, these are the demands of Mumbaikars:
1. Employment: Graduates are actively seeking meaningful employment opportunities aligned with their skills and aspirations.
2. Education and Placement Accountability: Necessity for accountability in the placement system, including mandatory placement reports, free student participation in placement cells, and oversight by Mumbai University and the Ministry of Higher Education are some of the expectations. Mumbaikars also demand essential revisions in attendance policies to accommodate health or family emergencies, with institutions providing alternative remedies and support.
3. Student Representation: Mumbaikars want the revival of the students’ union at Mumbai University and proposals for conducting student elections to empower the student body. They also seek more youth participation in city governance.
4. Urban Infrastructure: Enhancing urban infrastructure, including levelling sidewalks for easier walking and allocating dedicated lanes for cyclists are also some of the expectations.
5. Public Transportation: Mumbaikars have demanded improvement of bus services, ensuring adherence to designated standing capacity, increasing bus frequency in high-demand areas, and prioritizing passenger comfort. They also want advocacy for increased investment in better trains, considering the substantial daily commuter population of 61 lakh citizens. They expect rickshaws and taxis to adhere to meter fares.
6. Affordable Hostels: Mumbaikars want their elected leaders to address the housing challenges for students by providing more affordable hostels near educational institutions.
7. Financial Literacy Education: Introduction of financial literacy sessions in educational institutions to impart knowledge about financial independence, savings, investments, and managing personal finances is also one of the demands.
8. Voter Education in the Curriculum: Mumbaikars want inclusion of voter education in the syllabus to foster informed civic participation, recognising it as essential for meaningful societal reform.
9. Recreation and Public Spaces: Increasing open spaces for citizens and reconsidering restrictions on sitting in public areas post 1:30 am to allow responsible enjoyment of public spaces is one of the demands.
10. Water Quality: Mumbaikars also expect an improved water quality index.
Issues
The document also highlights issues of Mumbaikars. These are:
1. Poor vehicle management and parking systems
2. Poor quality of infrastructure of bridges and roads
3. Effects of Mumbai Metro on the city
4. Rapid growth of construction eating into open spaces
5. Corruption and inequality in the rational system
6. Increase in crime rate in slums and densely populated areas
7. Railway stations not age-friendly
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