For decades, paying a bribe for a government service was seen as an unavoidable part of everyday life.
Has that finally begun to change in Tamil Nadu?
In this episode of DeKoder, Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) speaks with ETB Sivapriyan, senior journalist, and Jayaram Venkatesan, Convener of Arappor Iyakkam, to examine whether corruption is actually declining or if the perception has changed faster than the system.
The conversation explores:
• Are citizens really experiencing corruption-free governance?
• Can political messaging create lasting institutional change?
• What role do transparency and e-governance play?
• Can the TVK government sustain its anti-corruption promise?
Watch the full conversation: https://t.co/qIn73HYrle
#TamilNadu #JosephVijay #TVK #Corruption #Governance #Politics #PublicPolicy #UmaSudhir #DeKoder
@VigneshRb11 Don't belive this kind of guys. DMK corruption pandranga nu therinji thana ivlo naal support panitu irrundhaan. Ipo ena dhidir maatram, nallavan vesham?
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay is really cracking down on corruption. Sacking six Chennai corporation employees. Removing his own party member. And now a full warning to all cabinet ministers he won't hesitate to remove them in case of corruption. Vijay means business. @TVKVijayHQ
@therachivaal@dmuthuk So who you gonna support? Stalin? Edappadi? Seeman?
Why if anyone comes up to take step to eradicate corruption, you guys coming in and questioning? Atleast wait for sometime and complaint.
What a hate da yabba? Any way your comments are useless..
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, chairing a cabinet meeting today, issued a strong warning: any minister found involved in corruption or policy irregularities will be removed from the cabinet.
He directed ministers to ensure zero corruption in their departments and deliver government services without bribery.
"I did not come here just for a five year tenure. People have reposed their faith in us, and we must live up to their expectations. Our promise of clean governance should be reflected in action," Vijay emphasised.
He stressed that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty, irrespective of their position, to enforce the government’s anti corruption stand.
Source: Media reports
@ranjithramesses@manuvirothi Bro u didn't gave proof. Both are different kind of bills. I uploaded the sample. If u are willing please provide like that. Else leave it.
https://t.co/x9jciKZ8JR
I forgot to mention in the post that it was truly a goosebump moment for me as I walked out of the RTO office. It was the first time I had ever experienced something like this firsthand from our government.
Thank you very much @CMOTamilnadu@TVKVijayHQ
@Arun_Indra@chennaipolice_ Court ku ponadhe Aranilaya thurai thaan.
Go and see her post, without proof she mentioned all the department minsters as corrupted.
DMK IT Wing also doing that regularly. Is it a really a IT wing or a account created by a random DMK member?
🚨 இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை அமைச்சர் குறித்து சமூக வலைதளங்களில் தவறான தகவல் பரப்பிய நபர் கைது.
🚨 A man was arrested by the Social Media Investigation Cell of the Cyber Crime Wing, Central Crime Branch, for allegedly spreading false information about the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments on social media.
#TakeAway
📢 Share responsibly. Creating or circulating false information online can attract legal action.
🚔 மத்திய குற்றப்பிரிவு – சைபர் கிரைம், சமூக வலைதள புலனாய்வு பிரிவு
#ChennaiPolice #CyberCrime #SocialMediaCell #FakeNews #PublicSafety
My Experience with the RTO: Today vs. 8 Years Ago
It was 1996 when the Tamil movie Indian was released. It focused heavily on the deep-rooted corruption within RTO (Regional Transport Office) offices in Tamil Nadu. The movie was supposed to sound the alarm and raise public awareness to help reduce corruption. Instead, bribery became more normalized than ever before. For the past 30 years, it felt like only middlemen could walk into an RTO and actually get anything done.
In 2018, when we moved back to India from the US, I had a naive mindset and a strong will not to pay bribes. I had purchased a used tractor for agricultural use. Despite having all the proper paperwork, I had to make at least a dozen trips to the RTO office, spending several months waiting before I finally succeeded. I made it my mission to persist and win. I did eventually succeed in registering the vehicle, but it came at a heavy cost to my time and emotional well-being. At the end of the grueling process, the assistant to the RTO laughed as he signed the papers and asked me to at least buy a flag for ₹50.
Since then, I evolved into a "normal" Tamilian because survival comes first. Bribes had simply become a normalized part of life.
Even after the 2026 election results and @TVKVijayHQ public stance against bribery, I still didn't voluntarily choose to go to the RTO office myself this time.
However, I went today because a middleman told me, "Sir, please go yourself, as middlemen are no longer encouraged inside the offices." To my surprise, I walked in alone with the paperwork from my dealership. The entire process took two and a half hours. All of the staff members were courteous, except for the brake inspector. He reminded me of the movie Indian—he easily could have worn me down, but I persisted, driven by the hope given to us by our CM, @TVKVijayHQ sir.
What gave me real hope, though, was the RTO officer himself. As he signed the papers, he explicitly told us, "You will be given a username and password to pay online. Please do not pay any money to anyone else." I never imagined I would hear those words inside an RTO office in my lifetime.
Today, I got the work done with absolutely zero bribes. A huge thanks to Thiru. Vijay Avl and the people for electing him as our CM.
I will write a separate post soon detailing where process reforms are still required based on my experience. Many British-era rules still exist; changing them will reduce corruption to an even greater extent.
@raavanamavan7@CMOTamilnadu@VigneshTvkCbe@arunraajkg@BussyAnand@RameshOffcl@makkal_saatchi
@Soosaimicheal2@polimernews Adhuku thaan Amaichar seruppa kavva koduthu adichittare, DMK Clown IT wing ID ya ve complaint panirukkaru.
Fake news ah poi evana IT wing mulayama spread panuvaana.
Opponent part kidayadhu DMK. Clown Party.
@raavanamavan7 This is what we need now everyone will fear to get bribe. Soon our people also raise voice against the officials who asking bribes to them.
@CMOTamilnadu Great work na! Proved you are with the people❤️🔥