Unemployment, and basic prices are the key issues for the voters in this Lok Sabha election, according to the survey conducted by the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
With 62% of respondents from villages, towns, and cities expressed the increasing difficulty in securing employment, concerns about job availability are widespread. Both men and women, with 65% and 59% respectively, perceive the job market as increasingly becoming challenging, while only 12% observe an increase in job opportunities.
As many as 21 % held centre accountable, 17 % held state governments and 57% believed both government responsible for lack of job opportunities.
According to the survey, inflation is the other crucial reason for the voters. Of the respondents 26 % attributed this to the union government policies, 12 % hold their respective state government responsible for this but a big chunk, 56 believe both state and union government responsible for the inflation.
71% of respondents report adverse financial impacts due to mounting commodity prices.
The Lokniti-CSDS Pre-Poll Survey 2024 collected feedback from a diverse sample of 10,019 respondents across 19 states. Conducted meticulously across 400 distinct polling stations spread over 100 Assembly Constituencies within equivalent Parliamentary Constituencies, the survey provides comprehensive insights.
Highlighting the severity of youth unemployment, the report notes that in 2022, unemployed youths constituted 82.9% of the total unemployed population, with an increasing share of educated youths, particularly women, facing joblessness. The report highlighted the concentrated nature of unemployment among educated youths and women in urban areas.
During the report’s release, Nageswaran highlighted the need to move away from the notion that every social or economic issue requires government intervention, advocating instead for increased hiring by the private sector. He lauded government initiatives such as National Education Policy (NEP), and skill development programs urging that these initiatives remain forward-looking and not swayed by political considerations.
Nageswaran stated government measures for employment, including the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana and facilitative actions such as payment of employers’ contributions under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and the new tax regime favoring employment generation over capital accumulation.
Coastal road Haji Ali pedestrian underpass flooded during high tide
