TARATDAC urges special access arrangements for differently abled people at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple consecration

Members of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) urged the district administration to make necessary arrangements for the differently abled people in accessing the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple during the consecration ceremony.A. Balamurugan, TARATDAC district secretary, said, “As the consecration ceremony of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is slated to take place on September 17, 2026, necessary arrangements should be made to facilitate easy access for the thousands of differently abled devotees who would be visiting the temple on the special day.”While the temple was normally equipped with ramps and wheelchairs, heavy crowds expected during the consecration ceremony would make standard access difficult for differently abled devotees, he pointed out.To ensure their safety and convenience, he stressed the need for special arrangements—such as stationing dedicated staff at entry points, providing assisted wheelchairs, setting up LED screens to manage congestion, and establishing a separate pathway.Mr. Balamurugan recommended establishing a dedicated queue system at the ‘annadhanam’ area to make dining smoother and more accessible for differently abled devotees.He noted that these requested accommodations are not novel requests, but rather legal mandates under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.Therefore, ensuring these norms are strictly followed during such major public events is essential for safeguarding the welfare and dignity of differently abled individuals.In a separate petition, TARATDAC urged the City Police Commissioner and District Superintendent of Police to host special grievance redress meetings.The association stressed that these dedicated sessions were necessary to give proper focus to the complaints of differently abled individuals, which were frequently overlooked during regular police proceedings.Differently abled men and women who encounter severe hardships—such as land grabbing, abuse, sexual assault, and harassment—frequently fail to find relief due to police indifference and the overwhelming caseload officers’ handle.Nevertheless, he emphasised that organising these specialised grievance meetings, as mandated by the RPwD Act of 2016, was crucial to addressing the concerns of differently abled individuals with the necessary focus and care. Published - August 24, 2026 08:03 pm IST