A website named Makkal Saatchi, created by Chennai software engineer Deepak Sivakumar, has collected over 1,310 citizen complaints regarding alleged bribery across Tamil Nadu. The platform, which covers 98 categories of government services, claims to have documented bribes totaling Rs 24 crore across 38 districts. While the site aims to increase transparency, the reports are not independently verified and do not guarantee legal or punitive action by government authorities.
Although the portal is an individual effort, it has occasionally drawn the attention of officials when complaints are shared on social media. However, there is no formal agreement between the government and the platform, and most reports do not trigger official investigations. The site currently relies on automated and manual systems to mask personal information, though some names of officials have occasionally appeared in public posts.
Sivakumar is now developing a proposed system called the Confidential Verified Reporting and Governance Intelligence System (CVRGIS) to improve data security and complaint tracking. This initiative aims to verify user identities while keeping them encrypted and providing a structured process for departments to review and address reported grievances. The developer intends for this system to transform individual reports into actionable data regarding recurring corruption issues.
