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We will later analyze the bribes in Public Offices, PWD, Liquer Business, MLAs, Ministers, Corporations, Political Parties etc etc.

How Much is the Bribe in Kerala!

Now that the Govt Employees are having a strike on ideaological grounds and the Govt is opposing the strike on the same grounds, it is time for us to see how much ideology all these people have in their real life.

Corruption and inefficiency have grown to Himalayan Proportions in all walks of life in Kerala (just like in the rest of India). This is in spite of the fact that both the LDF and UDF claim themseves to be the "people's parties"! Everyone is unanimous in criticizing the British Raj, the national leaders of post-Independent Era for all the evils we in the society today. Little do they remember that Civil Service was far more efficient and without rampant corruption which we see today.

Here we have a casual look at the 'Bribe' one has to pay to get a job or contract for a business at various levels in Kerala. This list is by no means complete. It will be expanded with input from readers.

Let's start with the school system. Olden days (1950s, 60s) one doesn't ahve to pay any money to get a job as an school teacher. Some recommendation to the School Manager probably helped to settle the deal. But no money changed hands. Then slowly private school managers started taking some money for the job, complaining that they did not get enough from teh Govt for the maintenace of the scholl building!

As far as we see from today this 'bribe' was about 1000- 3000 rupees in 1967 for an school teacher job. Recall that this was a large sum of money then, when you could get 10 grams of gold for about 100 rupees and the dollar rate was just about 5.50 rupees! Even here several schools including some many Church, NSS and SNDP Schools did not take money. Instead of money, considerations on religion, caste and aquainatance mattered.

In 1969 we have on record that a Junior Collge lecturer paid Rs 5000 for his job. We have also on record that St Thomas College Trichur did not take money even as late as 1969.

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Then in 1979 we have on record that an school teacher paid around 10 to 12000 for a job. College donation at this stage was about 30,000 rupees.

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Time passed. Rupee was devalued several times against dollar. Both India and Kerala witnessed several third rate governments. By the end of 80s or the beginning of 90s the school teacher post was values at about 80,000 to 100,000 rupees! One had to pay upto 500,000 to get a College Lectuerer Post!

Kindergarten Donation

By this time several private Kindergartens arose in the country. Since they are private one has to obvisouly pay the monthly fee as well as a donation of 2 to 5 thousand rupees for a seat.

Several LKG/UKG schools were also upgraded to have classes 1-4 and 1-7. Obvisouly only the rich (Gulf or otherwise) could afford such schools. Poor working class had to depend upon the normal schools which have been totally destroyed in standards by the political strikes of both students and teachers (and even management)!

To be continued ....