(Image Credits: Thanthi)
Police have detained several members of the differently-abled community who were staging a protest against the DMK government, pressing for a range of long-standing demands. These included raising the monthly disability pension, extending the allowance to all eligible and newly applied beneficiaries, and ensuring 100 days of employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
More than 500 differently-abled individuals had planned to march towards the Tamil Nadu Secretariat to voice their grievances. However, police intervened and arrested them as soon as they arrived at the Koyambedu bus stand in Chennai, preventing the protest from proceeding further.
The demonstration was organized by the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Persons with Disabilities and their Guardians. Their demands included increasing the monthly pension to at least ₹6,000, similar to schemes in states like Andhra Pradesh, with higher amounts—₹10,000 or ₹15,000—based on the severity of disability.
Protesters also called for immediate disbursal of pending benefits to nearly one lakh individuals. This includes applicants who have been waiting for over a year as well as those whose existing allowances were suddenly halted without explanation.
They further opposed the current system where children under 18 are denied support unless approved by age relaxation committees led by District Collectors. The group urged that assistance be extended to all children with disabilities, without age-based restrictions, and administered solely by the Department for the Welfare of the Differently-Abled—excluding the Revenue Department from the process.
Additionally, the protest sought a dedicated job card for each disabled person applying under the 100-day work scheme, with guarantees of full 100-day employment. They demanded an end to the practice of offering only half-days (4 hours), citing a government order that mandates 8-hour workdays as inappropriate for many differently-abled individuals. They also called for accessible work conditions, including transportation and sanitation at sites located more than 2 km from their residences.
The group also urged the state to extend the total working days for disabled individuals to 125 days annually, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, which mandates a 25% increase in social security benefits for this group.
They demanded immediate payment of overdue wages from the fiscal year 2024–25, and insisted that legal penalties for delayed wage disbursement be enforced.
Despite their intentions for a peaceful protest, authorities had not granted permission for the demonstration. As a preventive measure, police detained differently-abled participants across various districts en route to Chennai. In some areas, district leaders of the association were reportedly placed under house arrest.
When the protesters attempted to march towards the Secretariat from various points, they were intercepted—most notably at Parry’s Corner junction and again at Koyambedu bus stand, where many lay on the road in protest before being forcibly removed by police.
Those arriving from other districts intending to join the protest at Ezhilagam in Chepauk were also stopped and detained at different bus stands, effectively quashing the planned siege of the Secretariat.
(With inputs from ETV Bharat)
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