Corruption and bribe in Kerala - A round up
India recently figured as one of the most corrupt nations of the world. Corruption is the one single reason why India is still a poor country. This is one area where Kerala can also boast substantial contribution. Almost all government departments in Kerala are neck deep in corruption.
My first experience with corruption was when I needed nativity certificate for engineering entrance exam. I had heard from my friends that Rs.100 is the standard bribe rate at the village office. So when i met village officer I gave my application with Rs.100 inside it. He opened the application,looked at 100 rupee note and then he put it in his shirt pocket. There was not even a trace of guilt in him. He told me to collect the certificate after 7 days.
After 7 days I met him again. He gave the application back saying that I live outside his jurisdiction. Yes, I had applied at the wrong village office! I waited for a few seconds thinking he will probably return the money. I was young and stupid 
My father said - let us go and see Tahsildar. He has a bigger jurisdiction and can easily issue the certificate. He turned out be a bigger shark as well! I ended up cursing him at his office, and the entire staff came to manhandle us!
Finally I went to the correct village office and got the certificate after paying Rs 50.
Worst Kerala departments in terms of corruption
RTO (Regional Transport Office) - Corrupt officials with a set of agents out to collect money. Probably the most greedy!
Drugs Controller Office - They think collecting bribe is their birth right! If you go there you can see bribe collection happening openly!
PWD (Public Works Department) - They specialize in corruption and mainly target contractors. They are so powerful that they even kicked out big contracting companies(Pati Bel)!
Village office/Registration office - Another den of corrupt officials. They have started forming alliance with land mafia and have started generating fake sale deeds etc.
Health inspectors - Another set of corrupt officials who target mainly small establishments. If you don’t bribe them, they look for ways to make your life a hell (increase license fees etc).
Now the latest trend in Kerala corruption is to outsource bribe. You pay the agent and he will in turn pay the officials. For example you give money to plumber who in turn will bribe the water department. This is predominant in RTOs and corporation offices.
What I have mentioned above is from my personal experience. There could be other departments worse than the above. Also in some places there is no bribe because the official leading that department is honest and strict.
January 10th, 2007 10:37
nice blog u have n very well write ups u have…especially focusing on the kerala side…nice …keep the work going on ….
January 12th, 2007 14:52
To get your certificates, you were comfortable paying bribe. There are many like you who offer it even without anyone asking, and the officials just get used to it. So the root cause is us who is willing to pay!
April 16th, 2007 18:46
nice post….yeah i agree… even i had to get a parcel booked in the railway station. there was this agent who would bribe the parcel guy and so on. once i refused to pay him and my bike rached delhi almost a month later with broken mudguards n lights. the next time i paid him his 200 bukx and the bike got there in 5 days and with no damage at all.
its not bribe …its extortion .
we have no option now do we…there are counter measures ….but who has the time and money to go behind and bribe the guys who operate these measures…
nice post …i completely agree
April 19th, 2007 14:12
I am buying 6 cents of land in thrikkakara area.
agreement date ends on 30th april,2007.
I have to avail the housing loan and I am
showing the real price of the land in the deed.
Not cheating the gvt. and savin on stamp duty.
But the shocking part is that the Registrar
( Edappally) will ask for 0.5 percentage of the
deed amount as bribe for registration.
The advocate thourgh whom I am doing
the registration told they are helpless
The registrar will not register the deed
if he is not paid 0.5 percent.
What to do.. !!!
April 19th, 2007 22:12
@Anonymous
I will suggest two things.
1. Send an anonymous tip to Income tax against the registrar. He sure would have unimaginable wealth!
2. If he refuses to register, raise a formal complaint. In Kerala, it helps to have political connections.