Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

“Government has no intention of repatriating refugees”

HEARING woes: Sri Lankan Tamils air their grievances to Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy (seated third rom right) at a refugee camp at Pooluvapatti in Coimbatore district on Sunday.

CHENNAI: Several Ministers visited Sri Lankan refugee camps across the State on Sunday and the government came out with a clarification that it had no intention to repatriate the refugees.

The Government’s press statement was issued in the wake of media reports that the Centre had issued a directive asking the refugees, whose sanctioned duration of stay had expired, to return to their homeland.

“There is no such announcement from the Centre. The report attributed to a political leader is not only a false one, but could also create fear in the minds of the refugees,” the press note said.

Refugees staying in 115 camps in Tamil Nadu would continue to receive aid from it and the Centre, the release stated.

Among the Ministers who surveyed the state of affairs at refugee camps was Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy, who called on refugee families in Thekkattur village.

The Minister, who promised to desilt the supply channel of the Thekkattur tank to resolve waterlogging in the area, visited camps at Thoppukollai and Azhiyanilai on the Pudukottai-Aranthangi highway.

In Madurai, Backward Classes Welfare Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Adi-Dravida Welfare Minister A. Tamilarasi visited the refugee camps at Uchapatti and Anayur.

In Coimbatore, Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy gave a patient hearing to the problems faced by refugees housed in the camp at Pooluvapatti in Coimbatore South Taluk, Vedar Colony in Mettupalayam and Aliyar in Pollachi.

Highways Minister M. P. Swaminathan evaluated the living conditions at the refugee camps at Kangeyam in Erode and Neruperichal in Tirupur. The Minister assured the 79 families housed at the Kangeyam camp that he would place their demands for better homes, toilets and drinking water before the Chief Minister.

In Tirupur, the district administration announced plans to renovate houses and augment basic amenities at the camps in Neruperichal, Avinashi, Perumanallur and Dhali (Udumalpet).

At Tuticorin, Social Welfare Minister Geetha Jeevan surveyed the living conditions at three camps which are exposed to the elements. The 437 families in the Thaappaathi refugee camp complained of low voltage at night, forcing them to depend on candles or kerosene lamps.

Women at the Kulaththuvaaipatti camp seized the initiative to float a self help group. However, without revolving funds or other aid, the activities are severely restricted.

An estimated 314 families camping on a regulatory market warehouse in Chengam in Tiruvannamalai district are seeking basic improvements to their living conditions.

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