The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : PMK seeks all facilities for refugees in camps

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

PMK seeks all facilities for refugees in camps

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S.Ramadoss said on Tuesday that despite State Ministers visiting Sri Lankan Tamils refugee camps twice and submitting reports, there was no change in the situation in these camps.

He said the government should take steps to ensure that the refugees, many of whom living here for more than two decades, live with dignity and self-respect. He pointed out that the refugees were not in a position to agitate for their basic rights, because Tamil Nadu had given them refuge.

All the facilities and aid being given to them now should be enhanced, he added. They should be given all freedom applicable to civil society. Also, a separate welfare board should be set up for aiding them in education and economic empowerment.

Drawing a parallel with Tibetan refugees in India, Dr.Ramadoss said the Tibetans enjoyed all freedom in India.

Pointing to the Tibetan camp in Erode, he said Tibetans there owned houses and lived like any other citizen. Compared to these camps, the ones that housed Sri Lankan Tamils were pathetic, he said.

It would have been better if the teams of Ministers visited the camps of the Tibetans and created the same facilities for the Sri Lankan Tamils, he said.

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