Keep the change

Lawmakers should work to better the lives of the people rather than making token gestures.

In a Bollywood comedy flick released a few years ago, the protagonist, a jobless man, hires a small time actor as an accomplice to help portray him as a highly paid engineer in the city. But the overzealous actor does more than what he is told to do, nearly ruining the entire act. Once the act is over, the protagonist orders that Rs50 be deducted from the actor's fee for overacting. The movie’s name is Phir Hera Pheri , which loosely translates as ‘monkey business again’. Recent announcements by lawmakers from various parties to return Dashain allowances reek of Bollywood-style overacting.