How Kerala Kaumudi brought entrepreneur's grievance to the Chief Minister's attention

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Kaumudi played a key role in resolving a long-pending issue faced by Palakkad-based entrepreneur Joshy Thomas. After struggling for nearly a year to obtain documents needed to start his business, Joshy received the required records within a day after his concern reached the Chief Minister's Office through Kerala Kaumudi's Facebook platform.

A video of Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's speech at Kerala Kaumudi's 115th anniversary celebration was posted on the newspaper's Facebook page. Joshy Thomas left a comment under the video explaining the difficulties he had been facing. The comment quickly drew attention and led to official intervention.

At the event, held at Lemon Tree Premier in Thiruvananthapuram, entrepreneurs were given an opportunity to interact with the Chief Minister. During the discussion, NIMS Medicity Managing Director M.S. Faizal Khan asked a question related to entrepreneurship. In his reply, the Chief Minister said that he would never view any entrepreneur as an enemy. The statement inspired Joshy to share his own experience. In his Facebook comment, he explained how he had been repeatedly visiting the Taluk Office to obtain a sketch of his property, a document required for his business venture. Soon after the comment was posted on Sunday, the Chief Minister's Office stepped in and took action. The required sketch was arranged and made available to him, ending a year-long wait.

From shop assistant to entrepreneur

Joshy's journey to entrepreneurship began after he lost both his parents at the age of 10. After passing Class 10 in 1991, he started working as an assistant in a relative's shop. Noticing a growing demand for rubber solution, he later started a small manufacturing unit in Kalady. The business grew steadily, but in 2011 the local panchayat shut down the unit citing pollution concerns. To support his family, Joshy then worked as a driver.

He later moved to Palakkad and attempted to revive a closed thinner manufacturing company. Learning about the Central Government's Stand-Up India scheme, which provides loans to women entrepreneurs, he applied in the name of his wife, Soumya. With an investment of Rs 1 crore, the couple launched Soumya Polymers. The company now manufactures more than 100 paint and related products under the "Flowers" brand and has an annual turnover of around Rs 50 crore.

However, a 70-cent plot purchased for a second manufacturing unit became tied up in procedural delays, largely due to the pending land sketch. The company is now preparing to launch a new plant, Allen Polymers, within the next six months. Children: Anat Maria, Alna Maria, Alina Maria, Alan Joshy.

Chief Minister's assurance

Addressing entrepreneurs at the event, the Chief Minister said:

"Traders, businesspersons and entrepreneurs are all friends of the government. I see them as respectable taxpayers. Entrepreneurs can bring their problems before the government at any time, and solutions will be found."

The Chief Minister also responded to questions from Dr Biju Ramesh, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jyothis Chandran, Chairman of Jyothis Group of Schools, and Dr Mithun Rathan Murugan, Joint Managing Director of PRS Hospital.