Thrissur: A growing adult diaper crisis in Kerala is forcing many wheelchair users to stay indoors, increasing the risk of them becoming permanently bedridden, disability rights activists warn.
For many people with mobility disabilities, diapers and sanitary pads are daily necessities. However, rising costs and a lack of government support for disposal are making them difficult to afford.
Many families say the financial burden is becoming unbearable. Some individuals have even been forced to use paper in place of diapers because they cannot afford them.
A single adult diaper costs around ₹50. Most users require two to three diapers a day. This alone adds up to several thousand rupees a month.
The cost does not end there. Used diapers must be safely disposed of through local waste systems. Local self-government bodies charge about ₹25 per kilogram for disposal.
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Together, the monthly expense can reach ₹4,000 or more, which is unaffordable for many people with disabilities.
The state government has allowed local self-government institutions to provide diapers for bedridden patients. However, there are no schemes to support disposal costs.
Even the supply of free diapers is limited and available only in a few areas.
Disability rights group Voice of Disabled recently submitted a memorandum to the Thrissur Municipal Corporation mayor seeking free supply and disposal of diapers.
Activists say local bodies could solve the issue quickly if they prioritise it in their budgets. Rules already require a fixed percentage of local budgets to be allocated for disability welfare.
Most wheelchair users depend on disability pensions as their primary income. Many also rely on relatives for financial support. At the same time, they must pay for regular medical treatment and medicines.
Because of these pressures, diapers are often treated as an "avoidable expense". People reduce usage to save money.
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But the consequences are serious. Without adequate hygiene support, many wheelchair users stop going out. Over time, they lose social connections and become confined to bed.
Prolonged immobility can cause bed sores and other complications, eventually turning wheelchair users into fully bedridden patients.