Wed Aug 20 19:13:56 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Persons with disabilities employed in Tamil Nadu Tasmac shops (state-run liquor retail) held a protest outside the Tasmac headquarters in Egmore, Chennai. Organized under the Tamil Nadu Tasmac ‘Matruthiranligal Paniyalar Nalasangam’, the protestors demanded that Tasmac identify and fill vacancies for disabled individuals, provide permanent employment to current disabled employees, offer a monthly incentive of ₹2,500 (matching other government departments), and assign postings near their hometowns. Police detained the protesters in a marriage hall before releasing them. The protest was organized to highlight various employment issues.
**News Article:**
**Tasmac Workers with Disabilities Protest for Equal Rights in Chennai**
**Chennai, August 21, 2025 (The Hindu) –** Dozens of persons with disabilities employed at Tasmac (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) liquor retail outlets staged a protest outside the corporation’s headquarters in Egmore, Chennai, on Wednesday. The demonstration, organized by the Tamil Nadu Tasmac ‘Matruthiranligal Paniyalar Nalasangam’ (Association of Employees with Disabilities), aimed to bring attention to several pressing employment concerns.
Protesters are demanding that Tasmac management identify and fill existing vacancies specifically for persons with disabilities. A core demand is the regularization of employment for all current employees with disabilities, ensuring job security. They are also seeking a monthly incentive of ₹2,500, a benefit already extended to disabled employees in other government sectors, and the filling of vacant junior assistant positions. A key request from protesters is to be stationed in Tasmac shops near their hometowns, reducing commute times and improving work-life balance.
“We are asking for fair treatment and the same opportunities as other government employees,” stated a spokesperson for the association.
The demonstration was briefly disrupted when city police detained the protesters and transported them to a nearby marriage hall before their eventual release. The protest highlights the ongoing struggles of marginalized groups seeking equitable treatment and opportunities within the state’s public sector. Tasmac officials have not yet issued a formal response to the protestors’ demands. The situation remains tense as the association vows to continue advocating for the rights of its members.