In a bid to draw the attention of the state government, which had allegedly not provided freebies to the students of some government schools in the district, a Coimbatore-based activist went on a begging protest from Coimbatore Railway Junction to the District Collectorate, on Thursday.

Since he felt that the state government lacked funds to fulfil its promises, especially when it comes to distributing freebies to the school-going children, Periyar Mani from Kinathukidavu started collecting funds from people on the busy State Bank Road. He also explained to them why he was conducting the funds.

“The State Government has not distributed freebies for the students of government schools near Kinathikidavu, even after a month since the academic year had begun,” he said.

He accused the government of trying to help the private schools by not properly funding the government schools. “This has been the case last year too, and many students were not given the freebies that were promised to them,” he alleged.

Periyar Mani from Kinathukidavu had previously protested against the state government for delaying the distribution of free uniforms, footwear, and stationary to government school children for the past two years.

Denying the allegations, a higher official from the Education Department said that all the freebies had been distributed to the students, adding that the department had started the distributions for the current academic year, on Thursday.

Periyar Mani was arrested by the City Police for conducting a protest without getting prior permission from the authorities.