Diff-Abled of Nagercoil Seek Hike in Govt Assistance
Similar protests by differently-abled persons were held the same day in Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.
Kanyakumari: Around 130 members of the Kanyakumari district association for the protection of differently-abled persons were arrested on Monday after their protest demanding an increase in monthly assistance turned into a road blockade outside the collectorate in Nagercoil.
The protesters said differently-abled persons in Tamil Nadu were currently receiving only Rs. 1,500 a month as monthly assistance, and alleged that it was not being disbursed regularly. They demanded that the assistance be raised to Rs. 6,000, on a par with that provided in Andhra Pradesh.
Wilson, Kanyakumari district secretary of the association, recalled Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s promise during the election campaign to increase the monthly assistance for differently-abled persons to a level comparable with that in neighbouring states. “However, even five months after assuming office, the government had taken no steps to implement the promise,” he alleged.
The protesters accused the Vijay-led administration of failing to respond to their demand, despite several attention-seeking demonstrations. They warned that the statewide agitation would continue until the Chief Minister announced the hike in assistance.
Criticising the government’s decision to provide cars to all MLAs, along with Rs. 1 lakh towards fuel, driver’s salary and maintenance expenses, the protesting differently-abled persons said the Vijay-led administration appeared more concerned about legislators than people like them who were in dire need of government assistance.
As the protesters attempted to block the collectorate, the police detained around 130 of them and took them into custody.
Similar protests by differently-abled persons were held the same day in Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.
