It is natural that the ordeal faced by expatriate Shajimon George, who came home from Britain and started a new venture, became big news. Not only the expatriates but also the chief minister promised that the government would provide assistance and all kinds of facilities to any native to start a small business. The reality comes out when the various difficulties faced by those trying to start an industry or other ventures are often discussed with the public.

On Tuesday in Kottayam Manjoor, the expatriate protested for more than four hours at the land panchayat office and then outside on the street in the sun, for more than four hours for the permits to be obtained legally for his business venture. At the stage where the buildings and related facilities needed to start the venture were to be prepared and the building number etc. was to be obtained from the panchayat, the officials came with objections. Those who have given permission to construct the building are also responsible for giving the building number when it is completed. The highest level of bribery in local bodies is in the matter of building permits. Every step from the approval of the plan to the receipt of the occupancy certificate is full of flagrant corruption. There are no Keralites who have not faced this fate at least once.

An expatriate from Manjoor, Kottayam tried to establish a sports village in the country by investing his hard-earned money in Britain thinking that ten people would be employed here. He waited for three months to get the building. The problem started when the panchayat engineer insisted on paying him 20,000 rupees as a bribe if he wanted the number. He trapped the engineer who asked for a bribe with vigilance and later had to face arrogance and endless grudge.

In such cases, the employees will gang up and confront the complainant. That is what the expatriate also had to face. The initiative was inaugurated by two ministers of the state. Still, the people concerned tried to block the permits and bring out the animosity of the officials. Finally, on Tuesday, Shajimon George came to the panchayat office for a one-man protest. When the police intervened, the strike was shifted to the road. After the hours-long strike was taken over by social media, there was an intervention from the administrative center. It was agreed that the building number and necessary permissions would be given.

This country has witnessed many such struggles before. There are even those who have chosen the path of suicide because they are fed up with bureaucratic approaches and have no money to pay bribes. In Kannur, Kollam and Kottarakkara, some people took their own lives and brought the tiring experiences they had to face to the attention of the society. Although this only becomes news, there are thousands of incidents in the country that no one knows about.

While the government is trying to promote small enterprises at all levels in the state where big industries are less likely, the officials' minds are still not ready to change with the times. It follows the old tradition that the paper moves only when it is firmly held in the hand. It doesn't seem that the industry here will thrive without paying a decent salary and other benefits to officials who are prepared to take bribes.