TN govt will help wards of Lankan Tamil refugees: CM

Chennai, Aug 12 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today told the state assembly that the government, after consulting the Centre, would help the wards of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to pursue their higher education in the state.

Responding to T Velmurugan (PMK), who wanted to know whether the state government would help the children of the refugees to pursue higher education in the state, Mr Karunanidhi said it would not be possible for the government to immediately pass an order to this effect.

However, the state government would definitely discuss with the Centre as how to help the refugees to take up higher education in the state. During the previous DMK and MGR regimes, the children of the refugees were able to gain admission to even medical courses, but later they were denied the opportunity.

Stating that he was not willing to accuse anyone for this, the Chief Minister said whether it was because of a court order or not, the refugee students were not able to pursue their higher education in the state. People like Mr Chandrahasan had already met him and made the demand, he said.

He said it was a pity that the Sri Lankan Tamils, when they arrived here, were described as refugees, but the state governments, whether they were DMK, MGR or the previous AIADMK governments, the Tamils were provided with all facilities in the refugee camps.

After assuming office, he had deputed two of his Ministerial colleagues to find out the kind of facilities available for the refugees in the camps and how to improve them, he said.

After the state government took up the matter, the Centre came forward to provide a monthly assistance of Rs 200 and when it was suggested that the amount was not sufficient, the state government, without waiting for the Centre to hike the amount, granted another Rs 200, he said.

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