Now, ‘begging’ too is a form of protest

A group of people under the Indo French Old People’s Association gathered at V.V.P. Nagar in Thattanchavady with bowls in their hands to ‘beg for their rent.’

Members of Indo-French Old People Association stage a novel protest inPuducherry on Tuesday. — PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

Symbolic protests demand unique methods to make an impact when the authorities turn a deaf ear or a blind eye.

A group of people under the Indo French Old People’s Association gathered at V.V.P. Nagar in Thattanchavady with bowls in their hands to ‘beg for their rent.’ The persons claimed that under the Citizenship (Pondicherry) Order 1962, they were entitled to land patta from the government of Puducherry.

“We have tried several other protests over the years, including road blockade. But, the government turned a deaf ear to all that,” said D.J. Mounnissamy, president of the association. He said that rentals had skyrocketed over time and the community was finding it difficult to continue to reside where they were.

“Today we wanted to show that we will have to beg to pay our rentals,” Mr. Mounnissamy said.

Later, in a press note, the Association said its members had been promised land in Villianur or Thavalakuppam by government authorities and had also submitted a memorandum regarding this.

If their demand continues to be ignored, the association would approach the French authorities, Mr. Mounnissamy said.