Madurai : Ahead of the highly anticipated consecration ceremony of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple which is scheduled for September 17, the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) has petitioned the district administration to put special accessibility measures in place for persons with disabilities.
TARATDAC also called for dedicated grievance redressal meetings to be held by the city police, stressing that complaints involving persons with disabilities, ranging from property disputes to severe harassment, are frequently delayed or overlooked due to general police workloads. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Madurai | Silver Rate in Madurai | Bank Holidays in Madurai | Public Holidays in Madurai | Madurai AQI | Weather in Madurai | Petrol Price in Madurai | Diesel Price in Madurai | CNG Price in Madurai | LPG Price in Madurai Stay updated with the latest Madurai news.
“Many washrooms around the temple do not have accessibility-friendly stalls, which also needs to be considered when preparing for the ceremony,” he said. “Providing these accommodations is a statutory obligation mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act of 2016, making full compliance during high-profile public gatherings such as the consecration ceremony essential,” Balamurugan said. “The needs of the differently abled are being taken into consideration and special care will be taken to ensure that no difficulty is suffered,” a senior corporation official said.
Highlighting that the massive turnout expected for the event could create chaotic conditions, district secretary of TARATDAC, A Balamurugan emphasised that standard temple accessibility features, such as existing ramps and wheelchairs, will not suffice to handle the heavy surge of devotees. To safeguard the dignity, safety, and convenience of differently abled pilgrims, he outlined several critical requirements, such the creation of dedicated access pathways, stationing trained assistance staff at all major entry and exit points alongside dedicated wheelchairs, and establishing a dedicated accessible queue system in the annadhanam or free meal distribution areas. He also called for more dedicated parking spaces. Download the TOI App.