Traditional Healers Stage Protest in Coimbatore Over Unfulfilled DMK Election Promises
Members of the Indian Traditional Practitioners Association organized a significant demonstration in front of the district collectorate in Coimbatore on Monday. The protest centered on demanding that the ruling DMK party fulfill the commitments it made during the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly elections regarding the welfare and recognition of traditional medical practitioners.
Key Demands of the Protesting Practitioners
The protesters put forward a series of specific demands aimed at securing their professional future and preserving traditional systems of medicine. They called for the state government to conduct a comprehensive survey of all traditional practitioners operating across Tamil Nadu. Following this survey, they demanded the issuance of official identity cards to legitimize their practice and status.
Additionally, the association emphasized the urgent need to protect traditional systems of medicine from what they described as potential extinction. A crucial demand involved granting B Class or C Class registration through the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council to holders of the central government's Traditional Community Health Practitioners certificate. This registration would provide formal recognition and potentially enhance their professional standing.
The protesters also advocated for the formation of a dedicated welfare board specifically for traditional medical practitioners. Such a board would address their social security needs and provide a structured support system for the community.
Significant Community Impact and Political Implications
The Indian Traditional Practitioners Association presented compelling statistics to underscore the importance of their demands. They claimed that approximately 3.5 lakh families in Tamil Nadu depend on traditional medicine for their livelihood. Furthermore, the association stated that the traditional practitioner community represents nearly 15 lakh voters, making them a potentially influential demographic in the state's political landscape.
The protesters issued a clear warning regarding the upcoming elections. They declared that if the assurances detailed in the DMK's 2021 election manifesto are not implemented, they would consider boycotting the election entirely. Alternatively, they might extend their support only to political parties that explicitly back their demands for recognition and welfare measures.
More than 100 people actively participated in the Coimbatore protest, demonstrating a collective resolve to push for the fulfillment of long-standing promises. The event highlights ongoing tensions between traditional healthcare communities and state authorities over issues of formal recognition and policy implementation.
