India’s First-Time Woman Voter Demands Her Rights in This Charter

At ‘Me, The Change’ event, a charter of demands based on issues raised by first-time women voters was released.

What does India’s first-time woman voter want?

The Quint’s ‘Me, The Change’ campaign, presented by Facebook India, started off with this one simple question.

Over the course of the next few months, through video profiles of 10 remarkable young women achievers from all over India, we were able to find some answers to this question. While learning about their stories and achievements, we also asked them about their struggles, issues that concerned them and what they wanted out of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. These 10 women, who will be voting for the first-time in the upcoming general elections, had different demands specific to their situations.

We didn’t just ask these 10 women. During the state elections held in 2018, The Quint went on ground to talk to young women in Hyderabad, Raipur, Indore and Jodhpur about their aspirations and their expectations from the government. Through regional chaupals held with these young first-time women voters, we tried to understand what the first-time women voters want and what issues concern them the most.

For more perspective, we also looked at the results of a nationwide survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS as part of the ‘Me, The Change’ campaign. The respondents of this survey were first-time women voters from towns, villages and cities from across India. They too had their own demands and expectations from the government.

Combining these insights, The Quint released a charter of demands at ‘Me, The Change’ event on 17 January. This is a consolidated list of 10 demands based on issues raised by all the women we spoke to over the course of a few months.

Here’s a look at what the first-time woman voter wants.

Charter Demand 1

More jobs. Easy access to employment, so, we can be self-reliant and financially secure.

Charter Demand 2

Countrywide skill development programmes to make ourselves employable even in the absence of formal education.

Charter Demand 3

Financial support for education through scholarships – so that our family’s financial constraints and social biases don’t hinder our education.

Charter Demand 4

A simple and accessible admission process to join colleges and universities across the country – both online and offline.

Charter Demand 5

An iron-fisted approach that ensures better implementation of existing laws to tackle the violence we face – teasing, harassment, stalking, abuse, rape.

Charter Demand 6

Courses on personal safety, bodily autonomy, and gender-based sensitisation as part of school education across the country.

Charter Demand 7

'Digital India' as a tangible reality – with better connectivity and access to phones, to ensure more knowledge-based opportunities.

Charter Demand 8

More hospitals and healthcare centres that are manpowered, equipped and sensitised to provide medical help specific to us.

Charter Demand 9

Sufficient coaching, along with financial support, for those of us who are in the field of sports.

Charter Demand 10

More women, in positions of political power, at all levels of governance, to help represent our concerns, and lead by example.