WEBVTT

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Nearly 18 million. First time voters are set to

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cast ballots in India's general election. It begins on

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April 19 and runs for almost seven weeks. Leader

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Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term. A

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record only held by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

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. Days before voting began, Modi showcased a manifesto

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that promised to create jobs if he wins. That

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may be what young voters like 22 year old Yashraj

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Singh want to hear Singh is a student and hip

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hop dancer who moved to Bustling New Delhi for better

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opportunities and he wants a government that understands his struggle

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like they should provide more programs regarding education and employment

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because a lot of youth is now getting educated but

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still they don't have good jobs. Delhi native,

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Anam Khan feels the same. I am 21 years

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old and as of now I am employed and this

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is the first time I will cast my vote.

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The fourth of seven Children, Khan is desperate to

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contribute to her family's income. But since graduating from

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college last year, she has struggled to find a

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full time job. We wanted a government which can

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make provisions for job opportunities. So many people who

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are educated and have studied are unable to find jobs

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today. So as a first time voter, I

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will vote for a government which can support the youth

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. Official. Data shows nearly 16% of India's urban

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youth between 15 and 29 stayed unemployed in 2022 to

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2023 due to poor skills or a lack of quality

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jobs away from the bustle of the capital in the

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village of Surana, Amman. Yadav's priorities in the

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upcoming vote look a little different. The 19 year

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old has been working his family's land for as long

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as he can remember, he wants a government that

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appreciates the hard labors of farmers day and night,

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but they aren't rewarded for their effort. So it

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is important for the government to implement policies that are

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in favor of the farmers. So we can get

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a good crop yield and a fair price for our

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crop. Reuters. Surveys of families in rural areas

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earlier this year showed their income has grown stagnant or

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gotten worse compared to before the pandemic. A majority

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of India's population live outside its cities and in a

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2011 census, those areas employed half of its workforce

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. The general election will be held in seven stages

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until June 1 votes are due to be counted on

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June 4 and results expected the same day.