Hindustan Times (Gurugram)

First-time voters demand lower taxes, cheaper edu

am voting with the hope that the new government will strengthen the start up ecosystem, entreprene­urship and ensure that the youth get a chance to build businesses.

SANSKRITI BANSAL,

Student in New York

We are behind in research. Though the situation has improved in the last few years, it needs more encouragem­ent so that we are able to beat the West.

NANCY AGGARWAL,

MBA aspirant I hope for policies that prioritise the well-being and prosperity of all citizens, regardless of background or status. It is essential for the government to listen to people’s voices.

ANANNAY SINGH DHANKHAR, Resident of Gurugram Sector 18

Many first time voters in the Gurgaon constituen­cy on Saturday said that they wanted the new government in centre to boost startup policy along the lines of the United States and other western countries. They further wanted the government to reduce the cost of higher education by lowering taxes on higher education, i.e the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on foreign remittance­s over ₹7 lakh, chargeable under the Liberalise­d Remittance Scheme (LRS).

Sanskriti Bansal, a first time voter at Vipul Greens on Sohna, who had come from New York, where she studies, said that it is time for the government to create an ecosystem that supports entreprene­urship.

“I am voting with the hope that the new government will strengthen the start up ecosystem, push entreprene­urship and ensure that the youth get a chance to build businesses which will generate employment,” Bansal said. She also wanted the government to reduce the taxes, which she said were prohibitiv­e, adding that “Lower taxes will help people live life easy and also spend money on employment generation activities.”

Another first time voter Tanishi Singh, who voted at Malibu Town, said she wanted the government to focus on environmen­t issues, fair and free institutio­ns and in strengthen­ing the democracy. “The government must ensure that the rule of law prevails and issues such as saving the environmen­t and women’s safety are taken up on priority,” she said.

The youth in the city also wanted the government to focus on creating more jobs, open more schools and colleges and make education cheaper. Nancy Dhiman, who had come from Chennai to exercise her franchise for the first time, said that

the government should ensure to lower the cost of education for it to not become a burden on people. “We need better but more economical institutio­ns,” she said.

Nancy Aggarwal, an MBA aspirant, who exercised her right to franchise for the first time, in Sohna, hoped for the elected government to open more institutes for quality education and research. “We are behind in research. Though the situation has improved in the last few years, it needs more encouragem­ent (from the government) so that we are able to beat the western countries. They are way ahead of us in the field of research and technical education. The more we provide quality higher education and opportunit­y in the field of research, the more our country will grow,” she said.

First time voter Anannay Singh Dhankhar, 18, a resident of Palam Vihar, was filled with excitement and a sense of responsibi­lity. “I hope for policies that prioritise the well-being and prosperity of all citizens, regardless of background or status. It is essential for the government to listen to people’s voices and work towards creating a society that is just, equitable, and inclusive for everyone,” said Dhankhar.

Raj Surana, a Delhi-based young lawyer and a first-time voter, had reached at a booth in Badshahpur to cast his vote with his father and sister.

“I have voted for a government which will work on non-divisive agenda. The sanctity of the government institutio­n must be maintained. With this motive in my mind, I cast the first vote of my life,” he said.