People with Disabilities Call for Increased Monthly Assistance across Tamil Nadu

Author: Pragya Verma

September 20, 2026

HRRC supports the right of people with disabilities to have an adequate standard of living and access to social protection and financial assistance. HRRC recognises the importance of equality and social inclusion for people with disabilities.

[Image credit: Dibikar Roy/Unsplash]

People with disabilities held a statewide protest across Tamil Nadu in southern India on September 7, 2026. In Chennai, over 400 people protested at the Commissionerate for Welfare of the Differently Abled. The protest was organised by the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC). Protestors demanded an increase in monthly assistance from ₹1,500 to ₹6,000. They said the current assistance level was insufficient to cover two doctor visits as consultation fees, travel, and medicines would deplete the amount.

In Trichy, protestors held a road blockade causing traffic disruption near the district collectorate. 166 people, including 75 women, were removed from the road by the police and were detained in a private hall. They were later released in the afternoon.  

This is not the first time the protestors have made their demands. In March 2022, members of TARATDAC demanded an increase in the monthly allowance from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000. In December 2022, the Tamil Nadu state government responded and revised the assistance to ₹1,500. The protests began again on February 10, 2026, with the demonstrators demanding another increase in the monthly assistance amount. After eight days of agitation, the protests were cancelled following talks with the Tamil Nadu government amid allegations of police manhandling and excessive force during detentions.  

The ₹1,500 monthly pension is provided under the Tamil Nadu’s Differently Abled Pension Scheme (DAPS). It is a state-funded scheme, with eligibility criteria including being 18 years or older and having a disability level of 40% and above. 

Speaking about the recent protest, TARATDAC member Jayachandran said that states like Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh provide a monthly assistance of ₹4,500 to ₹5,700, while Tamil Nadu is still providing ₹1,500, which he describes as insufficient.

Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognises the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living and social protection. It also recognises their right to equal access to social protection services and assistance from the State with disability-related expenses, including counselling, financial assistance, and care. India signed the convention on March 30, 2007 and ratified it on October 1, 2007. 

The recurring protests by people with disabilities highlight the need for adequate financial assistance and social protection for people with disabilities. 

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Glossary

• Adequate - sufficient for a specific need or requirement.

• Agitation - the situation in which people protest or argue, especially in public, in order to achieve a particular type of change. 

• Blockade - the action of surrounding or closing a place, especially a port, in order to stop people or goods from coming in or out.

• Collectorate – the main office or building where a collector works.

• Detention - the state of being detained.

• Disability - a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person's ability to engage in certain tasks or actions or participate in typical daily activities and interactions.

• Insufficient - not enough in amount, strength, or quality; less than is needed.

• Maintenance Allowance - money that is given to someone, usually on a regular basis, in order to help them pay for the things that they need. 

• Manhandling - to handle roughly.

• Recurring - happening many times, or happening again. 

• Social Protection - social protection, or social security, provides benefits to individuals on the basis of risks faced across the life cycle (e.g., unemployment, disability, maternity, etc.) and to those suffering general poverty and social exclusion.