TN Govt allocates Rs six crore for Lankan refugee camps

Tiruchirapalli, Dec 9 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government would spend Rs six crore in the current year for the improvement of infrastructure facilities in refugee camps housing Sri Lankan Tamils, according to Special Commissioner and Commissioner for Rehabilitation R Karpoora Sundarapandian.

Talking to newspersons here yesterday, he said the Department had been allocated Rs 42 crore for the current year, which will be utilised for infrastructure facilities in the camps like doling out, cash, supply of rice at subsidised prices and utensils. .

Mr Sundarapandian said efforts were made to provide water supply, drainage, sanitation and repairs of roofs in all refugee camps. There were 117 camps with 73,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

Basic amenities were also being created in the refugee camps through non-governmental organisations at a cost of Rs three crore.

Women self help groups had been formed and income-generating schemes were launched to improve the economic condition of the refugees, he added.

Earlier, the Commissioner visited the Sri Lankan Tamils special refugees camp at suburban Vazhavanthankottai.

UNI