Sterlite protest compensation for families affected by the 2018 Thoothukudi firing has been increased, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay ordering an additional ₹5.25 crore for the families of those killed and grievously injured, according to a state government statement reported by Dinamalar.
The order covers 13 people who died during protests against the Sterlite copper smelter in Thoothukudi on May 22 and 23, 2018, and 40 people who suffered serious injuries. The government had previously paid ₹25 lakh each to the families of those killed and ₹5 lakh each to the families of those seriously injured.
Under the latest order, the families of the 13 deceased victims will receive an additional ₹25 lakh each. This will raise the total compensation paid for each death to ₹50 lakh. The families of the 40 seriously injured victims will receive an additional ₹5 lakh each, taking the total compensation for each case to ₹10 lakh.
The state government said the affected families had approached the Chief Minister seeking additional relief. The decision was taken on the recommendations of the commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan, according to the statement.
The additional payment comprises ₹3.25 crore for the families of the 13 people who died and ₹2 crore for the families of the 40 seriously injured people. Together, the two components amount to ₹5.25 crore. The statement did not provide a disbursement schedule or specify the department responsible for releasing the funds.
The Thoothukudi protest was linked to opposition to the Sterlite copper smelter. The deaths and injuries during the May 2018 demonstrations have continued to shape public discussion about the state’s handling of industrial disputes, protest-related violence and relief for affected families.
The compensation order adds a further administrative response to the incident, beyond the relief already paid after the deaths and injuries. It also places the recommendations of the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission at the centre of the latest decision on financial assistance.
The Tamil Nadu government’s statement, as reported by Dinamalar, confirms the revised amounts and the total additional allocation. It does not state when the payments will reach individual beneficiaries or whether any further administrative measures will follow.
