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We call some people pessimists because they believe that bad things
are going to happen and thereby they express their negative feelings
about life and society.
Why do people become pessimistic? There are various political,
religious, social and cultural reasons for the formation of such
attitudes.
Those who are influenced by various political ideologies, do not
approve the existing social and economic system, e.g. communists.
Some others who are affiliated to political parties and some NGOs are
also not agreeable with the policies of the Government or the past
Governments.
When it comes to religious factors, some are resigned to their fate
which is supposed to be the stumbling block to their progress.
Illiterate people and those who have an island mentality are not in a
position to see the socio-economic changes in the right perspective, in
comparison with those of other countries. There are people who are prone
to think that almost everything that is produced in the Western
countries are ideal.
They express pessimistic feelings about indigenous products. Some
rich businessmen are also dissatisfied with the way their business
transactions take place because they do not get maximum profit as
expected.
As far as our younger generation is concerned, one student told me
that our country could have become a Singapore long ago, if our
politicians had followed the economic policies of some foreign
countries.
This student who treats Singapore as a model for development is
unaware that even water is imported by that country from neighbouring
Malaysia. He cannot be proud of Sri Lanka which is naturally endowed
with more than hundred rivers and streams.
His pessimistic views go to prove that the students of his calibre do
not know the real situation of other countries because they do not like
to learn geography treating as a ‘local’ subject.
However, the harsh truth that many of us are prone to forget is that
a population explosion creates all problems on earth and the resources
are not managed accordingly.
‘Resources are limited, human wants are unlimited’ is the economic
theory. What we have to understand is that there are no panaceas for all
economic and social ills.
But, we as citizens, should identify the nature of our situation to
the development of our country.
What is the people’s contribution in the face of imminent food
crisis? Are we going to blame the Government or past Governments for
that matter? Are we going to resign to our fate? There are many things
that the people can do to get rid of this situation.
Can’t we allocate a small space in our small blocks of land (even
10-15 perch land) for the growth of some vegetables. I know about a very
young man who works for a company, grows vegetables in his home garden
during night time with the aid of an electric bulb.
It need hardly be said that food items grown in home gardens are free
from chemicals which are injurious to health. Anybody can grow at least
one or two banana trees in their gardens for their use.
As far as our home garden is concerned which is a 15 perch land, we
have nine bunches of bananas and two coconut-bearing trees in addition
to five and six kinds of vegetables.
I am aware of a lady teacher who lives in Colombo 6, is always in
search of various kinds of banana suckers for planting on her five perch
land.
Applying the saying, ‘If there is a will, there is a way’, can’t we
develop our country which has ideal climatic conditions for human
habitation? It is still not too late for the pessimists to become
optimists.
R. SOMASIRI
– Pannipitiya
For the past 2 or 3 months I have made nearly half a dozen visits to
the EPF office at Narahenpita to get my EPF refunds.
Each time I went, the female officers manning the desks requested me
to bring different documents once they said to bring a letter from the
last employer confirming the name on my NIC and the name in the employee
register are of the one and the same person, then they ask me to bring
another letter stating my maiden name in the birth certificate and the
NIC are of the one and the same person.
The last occasion I visited the EPF office April 18, the female
officers once again made yet another request.
I was really upset by this and almost in tears and to add insult to
injury to this, I heard them laughing at me as I walked out of the
office.
This made me really angry and I told my friend who was seated outside
that I would never visit this office again when a gentleman who was
passing by heard my comments and introduced himself as the Commissioner
of the EPF office. He called me inside and listened to my story and
called one of the girls at the counter and asked what the problem was.
He went through my papers one by one and initialled each page.
He then said that I need not visit the office again and my papers
will be processed for payment in about six weeks. I thanked him and
walked out with a smile. I later came to know that he is Upali Wijeweera,
the Commissioner himself.
I must also bring to the notice of the EPF Commissioner that his
staff manning the Information and Inquiries Counters are not quite aware
of the location of their own offices. There was an old gentleman who had
come all the way from Narammala to get his EPF.
He was told to go to the Kurunegala office, the officers told him
that they do not know where in Kurunegala it is, and to contact the
Police Station there.
PADMI FERNANDO
– Dehiwela
I am well aware that many of the doctors who completed their
Internship period in November 2007 were posted to the hospitals in the
North and East cleared areas.
They are doing their work very well, although they are very far away
from their family members. They have been in these areas for more than
five months, some of them are working alone. They have to complete one
year before they qualify for a transfer.
I am sure the Minister of Health will send the batch of MBBS (repeat
post Internship) batch to these areas, to release the proper batch when
they complete one year in the above areas.
The repeat batch are given stations close to their towns, because
they are a small number.
I think it is unfair because the repeat batch is given preference. I
hope the Minister will see to this matter and do something reasonable
for the post Internship graduates of 2007 when they complete their
Post-Internship period.
SOMALATHA MENIKE
- Polgahawela
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