The Hindu : National : Rs. 500 cr. for rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils

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Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009
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Rs. 500 cr. for rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils

J. Balaji

Ensure that the money is spent rightly: Opposition

NEW DELHI: The government will give Rs.500 crore for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (Tamils) of Sri Lanka and for the reconstruction of the northern and eastern areas in the island nation.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in his budget speech, said the government was committed to ensuring that the Tamils enjoyed their rights and legitimate aspirations within the territorial sovereignty and framework of Sri Lanka’s constitution. The External Affairs Ministry was working closely with the Sri Lankan government in this regard.

Though Mr. Mukherjee’s announcement was widely welcomed, some Opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu wanted the Centre to ensure that Sri Lanka spent the money only for rehabilitation and providing food, clothes and shelters to the affected Tamils.

BJP Rajya Sabha member and the former Union Minister, S. Thirunavukkarasar, wanted the government to ensure that the relief went to the affected Tamils and the Rajapaksa government did not misuse it to acquire arms and ammunition to enhance the country’s military capability.

CPI national secretary D. Raja wondered what was the mechanism proposed by the Centre to ensure that Rs.500 crore from the Indian tax payers was spent only for the purpose for which it was meant. “The amount should be spent only for providing relief to the internally displaced Tamils and not for the general rehabilitation and reconstruction of Sri Lanka,” he said.

Congress Rajya Sabha member B.S. Gnanadesikan said the allocation showed that the Centre always had concern for the Sri Lankan Tamils and their welfare.

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