He framed 16 permits on his wall': CFA flags flour miller’s struggle to start a basic business

By Admin

16 Apr, 2025

Flour miller’s silent protest speaks volumes about India’s ease of doing business

In a quiet corner of an Indian neighborhood, a small flour mill stands as a powerful symbol—not just of entrepreneurship, but of endurance. Walk into the shop, and you’ll find more than bags of wheat or the sound of grinding. The real eye-catcher? A wall lined with 16 framed documents. These aren’t awards or proud certificates. They are permits—each one representing a license, clearance, or approval that the owner had to obtain just to legally open this modest business.

Next to them, one frame stands apart. It holds a copy of the Constitution of India, as if silently questioning how a citizen’s right to livelihood must wrestle with a maze of bureaucracy.

The story caught national attention when CFA Niteen S Dharmawat shared it on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “the best example of ease of doing business in India.” In his post, Dharmawat expressed concern over the needless complexity of starting even the most basic of ventures.

Despite the flour mill owner’s honesty, dedication, and readiness to follow rules, he had to run from pillar to post to collect approvals from multiple departments. Time, money, and patience were all tested in the process. But instead of lashing out, the owner chose a quieter protest—he framed each permit and hung them on his wall for all to see.

This isn’t just a story about one shop. It reflects the experience of countless small business owners across the country who face enormous red tape before they can contribute to the local economy. The very people who fuel grassroots enterprise are burdened with procedures that should have been simplified long ago.

As India aims to position itself as a global economic powerhouse and attract investments, this humble flour mill becomes a mirror to the system—one that still asks too much of its smallest players.

Conclusion
The flour mill owner’s wall is more than decoration—it’s a display of grit, irony, and a call for change. If India truly wants to encourage entrepreneurship at every level, stories like these need to lead to action. Because ease of doing business should not be a framed aspiration—it should be a lived reality.