Dr. Rajalakshmi Kandaswamy, a doctor and author known for her work in autism therapy and advocacy, has publicly criticized the Tamil Nadu government, accusing it of paying lip service to the needs of children with autism while failing to offer meaningful support on the ground.
Her remarks come in the wake of an Autism Awareness Month event hosted by the state-run Centre of Excellence for Autism Spectrum Disorder at the Anna Centenary Library on 20 April 2025. Despite official promotion, the event witnessed dismal attendance—with only four parents reportedly present.
Taking to social media platform X, Dr. Rajalakshmi condemned the Dravidian Model government for what she called a “sham” event. In a strongly worded post tagging several officials including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Minister Geetha Jeevan, and Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, she wrote, “What is this @CMOTamilnadu @geethajeevandmk @mkstalin @TRBRajaa @TheStartupTN @ptrmadurai ONLY 4 parents here at d #Annacentenrylibrary for your #AutismAwareness SHAM ! Why r u torturing d parents like this? Where is d 15 Crores being siphoned off?”
What is this @CMOTamilnadu @geethajeevandmk @mkstalin @TRBRajaa @TheStartupTN @ptrmadurai ONLY 4 parents here at d #Annacentenrylibrary for your #AutismAwareness SHAM ! Why r u torturing d parents like this? Where is d 15 Crores being siphoned off? #TNAutismAtrocities… pic.twitter.com/v09p45In7N
— Dr.Rajalakshmi Kandaswamy (@intenthealer) April 20, 2025
According to her account, the expert session scheduled for 10:45 AM had not begun even by 11:10 AM. Instead of a comprehensive awareness program, she claimed attendees were shown just six PowerPoint slides, which, in her words, could have easily been shared over a Zoom call. “For these 6 Slides parents & grandparents of Autistic children were FORCED to attend d PHOTO SHOOT hidden Agenda “event” & not even given Water. A Zoom Call would have been more than enough reaching more people. The total of 6 slides. LATEST & Updated info regarding Autism & it’s treatment that are WAY AHEAD of these slides were NOT presented. Fyi @NHM_TN”
She further alleged that updated, evidence-based information on autism treatment was missing from the presentation, calling the event outdated and inadequate.
In a follow-up post, Dr. Rajalakshmi accused the government’s Department for the Welfare of Differently-Abled Persons of being complicit in a larger network she termed the “Autism Mafia.” She alleged that one of the department’s members, Mr. Balaji (an advocate), along with The Startup TN CEO Sivarajah Ramanathan—who she claims is a trustee of an autism-related NGO—was involved in an “attempt to murder” plot against her. She linked to a prior post from 4 March making similar claims, and demanded a response from government and law enforcement agencies.
SEE this Criminal in d Attempt to Murder case being PROMOTED by “ APPA App” @mkstalin when Already der r @NCWIndia @NCSC_GoI cases against him & 14 notices sent to d DGP & COP of @tnpoliceoffl against him! He is UNSAFE for Autistic children & der families! #CMStalinAtrocities… pic.twitter.com/lSfcV7jvox
— Dr.Rajalakshmi Kandaswamy (@intenthealer) March 4, 2025
Highlighting the poor treatment of attendees, she recalled how a grandfather who traveled from Tiruvarur had to sit on the stairs outside the library and wait without access to water, food, or even seating. “Even dogs are treated better in Tamil Nadu,” she wrote. “The elderly man was so exhausted he fell asleep two minutes into the session. I’m withholding the photo to respect his privacy.”
Dr. Rajalakshmi ended her thread by calling out that this is a recurring pattern of government-orchestrated “photo-op awareness events” in air-conditioned halls across the state, accusing officials of dragging parents and children from various districts every weekend just to stage token programs with no real impact. “This is not autism awareness. It’s exploitation and cruelty,” she said.
(This article is based on an X Thread By Dr. Rajalakshmi Kandaswamy)
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