Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay sanctioned additional compensation for families of those killed and injured during the 2018 Thoothukudi agitation.
The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned an additional relief package of Rs 5.25 crore for the families of 13 people killed and 40 others seriously injured during the 2018 anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the decision following appeals from affected families, according to reports by India Today and Urban Acres.
The compensation follows recommendations from the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission, which investigated the police firing that occurred on May 22 and May 23, 2018. Under the new order, the families of the deceased will get an extra Rs 25 lakh each, while the 40 injured individuals will receive a further Rs 5 lakh each.
The 2018 agitation involved residents and environmental activists demanding the closure of the Sterlite Copper plant, operated by the Vedanta Group, due to concerns over environmental pollution. The protests intensified during the 100th day of the agitation when thousands marched toward the district collector's office.
The latest funds are over and above the previous compensation, which included Rs 25 lakh for each of the 13 deceased and Rs 5 lakh for each of the 40 injured. This brings the total number of people covered by these specific measures to 53.
Environmental organisation Poovulagin Nanbargal welcomed the announcement but stated that financial aid does not constitute full justice. The group urged the government to punish those accused in the incident and to ensure the complete demolition of the Sterlite plant.
