The Hindu : Front Page : Students land a 'summer job'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Students land a 'summer job'

Rajesh Nair

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

INTERESTING ASSIGNMENT: Students inquiring with a voter on Mission street in Cassicade constituency on Wednesday.

PONDICHERRY : A bunch of students in the Cassicade constituency have a different kind of "summer job" this time.

The Congress candidate has roped in these students, all aged below 18, for gathering basic statistics for his electioneering.

Armed with the voters' list for the constituency and the party symbol pinned on their shirt, they go from house to house to find out whether the residents would be available for voting. Another very "important job" entrusted to them is to gauge the socio-economic status of the voters.

"Apart from the availability of the voter on the day we have been asked to check whether the voter belongs to the higher, middle or lower income group," says Sathish, a Plus-Two student at a government school.

The statistics have to be handed over to the campaign manager daily.

The students have been split into several groups and told to complete the job within a week. What do they get in return? "We are not paid in cash," Sathish responds promptly. Their "expenses" are taken care of, say the students. "We are only provided breakfast, lunch and dinner," claims Satish.

They have also been promised help if the candidate emerges victorious.

"He has promised to help us in many ways after the election," says Murugan, a first year student in a Government Polytechnic.

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