Synopsis: Kerala once led India in people’s movements, literacy, and decentralisation reforms. It still can. But a state that calls itself Malinya-muktha Nava Keralam must first prove it in the waterbodies of its capital. Real progress is not about “Smart Cities”; it’s about smart citizens and responsible governance.

The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation is about to install an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered robot to clean the Amayizhanchan Thodu, a canal that drains water from most parts of the city.

This is a pilot project. This robot will recognise garbage, scoop it out, and supposedly restore the waterways. Sounds smart? But it isn’t. It’s the latest display of how our governance mistakes are dressed up as technological triumphs.

Let’s get this straight. It is illegal

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