People are talking about —

— the report that the government will provide one million smartphones, tablets and laptops to top performing students across the country, including the remote areas. People say this may appear like a good idea but how will these items provide opportunities for the youth to change the country’s destiny as stated by the government, because what is needed is proper schooling and training to change the destiny of a nation, not fancy gadgets that will probably be misused or sold.

— the fact that while the government has taken several initiatives to address the issue of public sanitation, there are significant shortcomings since many government initiatives suffer from poor implementation and lack of follow-up, with corruption and mismanagement often diverting funds away from the projects, resulting in incomplete or substandard facilities. People say there is a lack of public awareness about hygiene and intensive campaigns are needed to educate the public on the importance of maintaining cleanliness, particularly in public toilets.

— utility bills and how the cost of using facilities like gas and electricity is increased by the multiple taxes that are added on which makes them ridiculously high and unable to be paid by the lower and middle classes. People say while the electric suppliers had been adding these taxes since the government decided to fill its coffers in this manner, now the gas company has begun to do the same with a huge GST added on recent bills!

— the declaration by the government that it is working to bring down the cost of electricity, while at the same time there is a request by one supplier to raise the price - both stories on the same day, so how can the public take the government’s words seriously. People say until the problem of the IPP’s and the theft of electricity is stopped, the general public is not going to get any relief no matter how much it protests!

— the new, very disturbing habit called ‘the bystander effect,’ often seen when people not directly involved in emergency or accidental situations simply watch and make videos without offering help to the victims. In most cases people are more likely to simply stand by and make videos, while others run away to save their life, thinking that their lives are more valuable, or are afraid they may get involved in the investigation because of the high handed behaviour of our law enforcers.

— the havoc caused by the heavy rains, not only in smaller towns and cities but even in other ‘cosmopolitan’ cities - something that happens every year and how successive governments make the same empty promises before the rains begin - but drains are not cleared; repaired or encroachments removed so that the rain water can flow away. No wonder, despite the problems people face, they try to lighten the mood with photo meme’s like, “We do not need to go to Venice. We have it right here!’

— a book written by a ‘super bureaucrat’ and the fact that it is full of inaccurate accounts of what happened in years gone by with those which happened recently under a different government. People say those who write about history should thoroughly research and check their facts to pen down accurate details that will give a true picture of what happened and when, as unfortunately, after a few years, this book will be quoted as an account of national ‘history’. —