Police Detain Hundreds of Disabled Protesters in Tamil Nadu Demanding Higher Assistance
In a significant development, police forces in two major Tamil Nadu cities detained hundreds of disabled individuals on Tuesday as they staged protests demanding an increase in state-provided disability assistance. The demonstrations, which involved road blockades near district collectorates, brought attention to what protesters describe as inadequate financial support from the Tamil Nadu government.
Coimbatore: 55 Protesters Detained in Road Roko Demonstration
The Coimbatore city police took approximately 55 disabled people into custody when they organized a road roko protest near the district collectorate. The demonstration was spearheaded by members of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of all types of Differently Abled and Caregivers Association (TARATDAC). Protesters emphasized that the current assistance they receive from the state government falls short of meeting basic needs, creating financial hardship for many families.
K Mahalingam, district convenor of TARATDAC, provided a detailed comparison of disability assistance across various states:
- Andhra Pradesh offers Rs 6,000 monthly for persons with disability, Rs 10,000 for severe disability, and Rs 15,000 for severe disability requiring heightened support.
- Puducherry provides between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,800 per month.
- Haryana disburses Rs 3,500 monthly.
- Telangana allocates Rs 4,016 each month.
"In stark contrast," Mahalingam noted, "Tamil Nadu offers the lowest assistance rates: merely Rs 1,500 for persons with less than 75% disability and Rs 2,000 for those above 75% disability."
The protesters demanded an immediate hike in these assistance amounts to bring them in line with other states. Following the demonstration, police detained the protesters in a local marriage hall before releasing them later in the day.
Salem: Over 300 Detained as Protest Causes Major Traffic Disruption
Simultaneously, the Salem city police detained more than 300 disabled individuals when their protest demanding increased disability assistance resulted in a traffic blockade on the main road leading to the district collectorate. The demonstration caused significant traffic congestion for approximately one hour, disrupting normal vehicular movement in the area.
Police authorities intervened to clear the road, subsequently detaining the protesters in a private marriage hall. Similar to the Coimbatore incident, all detained individuals were released later without further legal action. The coordinated protests in both cities underscore growing frustration among disabled communities regarding what they perceive as insufficient government support.
The protests highlight a critical issue in Tamil Nadu's social welfare framework, where disability assistance rates remain substantially lower than those in neighboring states. Activists argue that the current amounts fail to account for rising living costs and the additional expenses associated with disabilities. The detention of protesters, while temporary, has drawn attention to the urgent need for policy review and potential increases in financial support for disabled residents across the state.
