Chennai, August 27 (BPNS)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K.Stalin has announced schemes worth Rs 317.4 crore for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. Stalin while making a suo moto statement in the assembly on Friday said that the government would construct 7469 new houses for the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who are in various camps across the state. He said that the expenditure of this construction would amount to Rs 231.54 crores.
The government is planning to construct 3520 houses in the first phase at a cost of Rs 108.81 crores. The Chief Minister said that his government would ensure better living conditions and livelihood for the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
Stalin said that basic requirements like electricity, drinking water and toilets would be provided in the refugee camps at a cost of Rs 30 crores. The Chief Minister said that the government would allocate an amount of Rs 5 crore to launch the Sri Lankan Tamils Live’s Improvement Scheme.
It is to be noted that a total of 3,04,269 Tamils have to come to the state as refugees from Sri Lanka since 1983 and of this 58,822 are in refugee camps in 29 districts. A large number of refugees are living outside the camps.
The Chief Minister said that the government would fully meet the expenses of 50 Sri Lankan Tamil students based on their marks. He also said that the government would meet the educational and hostel fees of the first five students of agriculture and agriculture engineering courses. The government would also meet all the educational expenses of all the post-graduate students and the Chief Minister added that the government would allocate Rs 1 crore every year for the purpose.
Stalin said that the scholarship for polytechnic students would go up from Rs 2500 to Rs 10,000, scholarships for undergraduate students in arts and science college would be raised from Rs 3000 to Rs 12000. The scholarships of undergraduate students in professional courses will be in the range from Rs 5000 to Rs 20,000. Chief Minister said that the government would allocate Rs 1.25 crore as expenditure.
The Chief Minister also said that a committee would be constituted to render help Sri Lankan Tamils in camps and outside to felicitate permanent solutions such as citizenship and return to Homeland.
The Minister for Minorities and Non- Resident Tamil Welfare, an MP, an MLA, Public secretary and other officials will be the members of the committee.
