Tamil Nadu’s new government has said it is moving to end “party fund” collections and the long-running culture of kickbacks. However, a ground report from Tiruppur district alleges that bribery continues unabated across multiple government departments, hitting both businesses and the public.
Industrial units—especially in textiles, dyeing, printing and allied sectors—are described as being treated as easy targets during inspections. Even firms that claim to follow rules say they face pressure to pay unofficial amounts to avoid disruption, with the fear of closure or stoppage orders cited as a key lever.
The report points to alleged demands linked to the Pollution Control Board, including payments for periodic renewals and for effluent treatment facilities. It also alleges that officials cite sludge and salt-waste checks to raise objections and intensify pressure, with threats of shutdown if bribes are not paid.
Exporters are said to face similar pressure from the labour safety department, where certificates are crucial for fulfilling overseas orders. Business owners claim they pay amounts ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of rupees to prevent “inquiry” threats that could delay shipments and cause heavy losses.
On the public side, the report alleges bribery in the revenue department for services such as legal heir certificates, death certificates and patta transfers. It claims fees are informally calculated based on years elapsed for death certificates, and that students and low-income families are forced to pay to obtain documents needed for education and employment.
