Holidaying students earn poll cash

Bhimavaram: The elections are turning out to be lucrative for students who are on their summer holidays in towns and cities of West Godavari district.

All major political parties have been banking on students to carry out door-to-door campaigns for them every day. And to attract the students, high school drop-outs and unemployed youth to participate in the poll campaigns, the parties are offering Rs 300 per day to students above the age of 18 and Rs 150 to those below the age of 18, but not less than 14 years.

With the scorching heat taking its toll on women and middle-aged men, the youngsters have become the fall-back option for parties.  They have been actively campaigning in Eluru, Bhimavaram cities and Narasapuram town. A group of students told this correspondent that they were asked to go along with the MLA and MP candidates of a particular party from 8 am to 10 am and again from 4 pm to 6 pm in their respective wards for door-to-door campaigns.

An engineering graduate in Bhimavaram said that they were asked to participate in the campaign from April 28 to May 5 and payment would be made daily. A 15-year-old high school drop-out in Eluru town said that boys of his age were entrusted to carry party flags and follow the party candidates while shouting slogans.

A youngster from Narasapuram, who is in search of a job, was of the hope that a week-long acquaintance with the leader might prove helpful in getting a job if the leader won. Afraid that disclosure of their identities might get them and the party leaders in trouble with the Election Commission, another youngster in Bhimavaram said that the parties were offering Rs 500 a day to women students.