A large number of women gathered at the Madurai District Collectorate on October 7 for the weekly public grievance meeting, following the introduction of the ‘Vetri Payanam’ free travel scheme for women from October 2. Many women arrived to submit petitions seeking the women’s entitlement amount and free house-site pattas, leading to long queues and congestion at the Collectorate. District Collector Nishanth Krishna instructed officials to deploy additional staff to manage the crowd and receive petitions.
The Madurai District Collectorate normally conducts a public grievance meeting every Monday under the chairmanship of the District Collector. Residents from across Madurai district attend the meeting to submit petitions concerning their various demands. Women travelling from outlying areas such as Usilampatti, Vadipatti, Kottampatti, Peraiyur, Silaiman and Melur had earlier faced higher travel costs when coming to the Collectorate to submit petitions. As a result, comparatively fewer women were able to attend, according to the information provided.
Following the introduction of the Vetri Payanam scheme from October 2, women were able to travel to the Collectorate without paying bus fares. Thousands of women therefore arrived at the grievance meeting on October 7, resulting in a large gathering and long queues within the Collectorate premises.
A majority of the women had reportedly come to submit petitions seeking the women’s entitlement amount and free house-site pattas. Elderly people also arrived to submit petitions stating that their assistance amounts had not been credited. As people waited to submit their petitions, the increasing crowd caused congestion in the petition submission area.
The congestion reportedly caused difficulties for women and elderly people waiting to submit their petitions, while children caught in the crowd began crying. Revenue Department and police personnel jointly worked to regulate the gathering and register the petitions. However, as the number of people increased, women who had come to attend the grievance meeting also began receiving and handing over petitions.
The public were subsequently sent to the District Collector for further submission of their grievances. As the crowd continued to increase, District Collector Nishanth Krishna personally visited the petition registration area and reviewed the situation.
Administrative Measures
District Collector Nishanth Krishna, Madurai District Collectorate, Revenue Department, Police Department, members of the public
Thousands of women attended, long queues formed, congestion developed at the petition counter, difficulties were reported for women, elderly people and children
Vetri Payanam free travel scheme, petitions seeking women’s entitlement payments and free house-site pattas, elderly people seeking pending assistance payments
Scheme introduced from October 2, weekly Monday grievance meeting, visitors from Usilampatti, Vadipatti, Kottampatti, Peraiyur, Silaiman and Melur, additional staff requested
District Collector Nishanth Krishna instructed officials to deploy additional personnel to receive, register and process petitions from the public amid the increased crowd.
