In an unprecedented move, Chief Minister Kalaignar on November 12 last announced a Rs.100 crore relief package for the welfare of Lankan Tamils staying in camps in Tamil Nadu. Besides the allocation of Rs.5 crore this year, Kalaignar announced a week prior to that date an additional Rs.12 crore would be spent on improving basic amenities at the relief camps, following a report in a Tamil weekly about the poor condition of the camps. The Central government is yet to respond to its proposal for the assistance to the tune of Rs.16.5 crore.
The State government’s decision to unveil a Rs.100 crore, without worrying about the Centre’s assistance, is the biggest ever allocation for Lankan Tamils since they took political asylum in India since 1983. At present, the Centre reimburses the entire amount spent on maintenance of relief camps by way of subsidized food, accommodation and monthly dole.
While a whopping Rs.54.60 crore will be spent on building concrete houses in the next stage, repair work on 5,982 houses and on extending welfare schemes would involve an expenditure of Rs.45.40 crore. Repair work and basic amenities like water supply, roads, street lights and toilets will be taken up. To bring all the Lankan Tamil families under Kalaignar Insurance Scheme for treatment of life saving diseases, the government will pay a premium of Rs. One crore. Free colour television sets will be distributed at a cost of Rs.4.54 crore. Nearly 1,200 women would benefit by the Marriage Assistance Scheme.
And free bus passes would be extended to 354 college students at an expenditure of Rs. Eight lakh. The students would also get sports equipment worth Rs. Four lakh. Considering the inmates’ plea for free movement, the State government has decided to relax existing norms on those working outside the camps. They need not report to the camp except on the day of distribution of the cash dole.
With security concerns coming down after the end of strife in Lanka, the government has relaxed the norms for issuing driving licences to the Lankan Tamils. They can use their identity cards and a tahsildar’s certificate to obtain licences.
Earlier on November 1, Kalaignar announced an urgent meeting of Ministers and officials on the very next day (November 2) to discuss and issue orders for allocation of sufficient funds to improve the living conditions of Lankan Tamils living in relief camps in the State.
In an emotional statement, he said he was ‘in tears’ when he saw reports and pictures in the latest issue of ‘India Today’ (Tamil), depicting the plight of the Lankan Tamils living in the camps without much basic amenities. Although the report was not totally correct, nevertheless the Chief Minister said in a statement, “It is our duty to take quick actions to alleviate the problems of the Lankan Tamils. All departments of the State government have the responsibility to ensure food, education and peaceful life to the Tamils, who left their motherland for Tamil Nadu.”
At the meeting of Ministers and officials convened by him on November 2, the Chief Minister gave a strong message stating “Don’t see those staying in the camps here as refugees, see them as Tamils.... the amenities available to Tamils living in other parts of the State should be made available to those living in the camps.”
Announcing that the State government would spend Rs.12 crore immediately to improve basic amenities in the camps and directing Ministers and District Collectors to visit all the 115 camps in 26 districts in the State in which 73,241 persons belonging to 19,340 families were living, and present their findings to him by November 10, Kalaignar kept his words and announced the above detailed relief package, placing the Lankan Tamils on par with the people of Tamil Nadu in respect of their rights basic amenities and sops from the State government.
After the DMK government took over in May 2006, a scheme to improve amenities in these camps was drawn up on the basis of visit by Ministers to the camps. The scheme, envisaging works for Rs.16 crore, was sent to the Centre. As the Centre’s clearance had not been received, the State government itself set apart Rs. Five crore for 2009-2010. The DMK rule doubled the cash dole to them and improved facilities and concessions given to them. In 2005-06, the budget provision for the Rehabilitation department was Rs.25.78 crore, it was Rs.44.62 crore last year. This year a sum of Rs.55.34 crore had been earmarked.
The DMK had already adopted a resolution at the Anna Centenary valedictory conference in Kancheepuram in September last demanding permanent resident status to Lankan Tamils living in the State. Kalaignar wrote a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh thereafter requesting the latter to take action that would enable the permanent settlement of the Lankan Tamils in the State.
With these rights, facilities, and concessions to Lankan Tamils living in the camps in Tamil Nadu announced by Kalaignar, they are as much Indian citizens as others in this country. Springing from his affinity and concern for the welfare of Tamils all over the world, it only requires a formal clearance from the Central government to accord permanent residential status for these Lankan Tamils.
(22-11-09)
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