CM Stalin Inaugurates 90 Houses for Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees in Kanyakumari
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday inaugurated 90 newly constructed houses for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees at their rehabilitation camp in Agastheeswaram panchayat, Kanyakumari district. The housing project, built at a cost of Rs7.85 crore, marks a significant step in providing permanent shelter to the displaced community.
Comprehensive Support and Future Demands
During his two-day visit to the district, Stalin interacted with the camp inmates and directed officials to address their additional needs. He specifically ordered the fulfillment of demands for a ration shop and a community welfare centre within the camp premises to enhance daily living conditions.
In a detailed statement on social media platform X, Stalin elaborated on his government's holistic approach towards supporting Sri Lankan Tamils. He emphasized a strategic shift from providing temporary relief to ensuring long-term stability and self-sufficiency for the refugee population.
Educational and Livelihood Initiatives
The Chief Minister highlighted substantial educational support, revealing that 5,771 students have received scholarships totaling Rs11.07 crore over the past three academic years to pursue higher education. This initiative aims to empower the younger generation through academic advancement.
Furthermore, Stalin outlined ongoing livelihood programs under the Dravidian model government. These include:
- Financial assistance and grants to self-help groups
- Skill development training programs for vocational enhancement
- Economic support mechanisms to sustain daily livelihoods
Call for Indian Citizenship
Stalin made a strong appeal to the Indian government, urging expedited granting of citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who have resided on Indian soil for decades. "We expect the Indian government to quickly grant them the citizenship they deserve, as they have been living on Indian soil for a long time," he stated.
He reaffirmed his administration's commitment, saying, "Until then, our voice will continue to be heard for our Tamil brothers and sisters."
Additional Inaugurations and Security Incident
Earlier in the day, Stalin inaugurated several memorial structures:
- The Ayyan Thiruvalluvar statue silver jubilee arch in Kanyakumari, constructed at Rs1.45 crore
- The statue of Kumari Komedhagam Ponnappa Nadar in Nagercoil, built at Rs50 lakh
- The statue of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at Puthalam
The events were attended by prominent dignitaries including Speaker M Appavu, Minister Mano Thangaraj, MP Vijay Vasanth, MLAs Rajesh Kumar and Tharahai Cuthbert, Secretary for Tamil Development and Information V Rajaraman, Director of Information and Public Relations R Vaithinathan, and District Collector R Alagumeena.
In a separate security incident, police detained a youth identified as Guhan from Kanyakumari for flying a drone in violation of no-fly zone restrictions during Stalin's reception in Panagudi, Tirunelveli district. Security personnel immediately grounded the device when it was spotted hovering over crowds welcoming the Chief Minister en route to Kanyakumari. An investigation into the matter is currently underway.
