The houses for Sri Lankan Tamils that would be inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate 280 free houses built for Sri Lankan Tamils, who have been living in rehabilitation camps at Kasthambadi village near Polur town in Tiruvannamalai, at a cost of ₹22.62 crore on December 27 during his visit to the district.
Officials of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), which executes the project, said the Sri Lankan Tamils have been living in dilapidated single room houses with bare minimum facilities since camps were set up in early 1990s. “The new housing quarters also has other facilities like Over Head Tanks (OHTs), community centre and public library. A workshop also forms part of the housing quarters where free vocational training will be provided to beneficiaries,” H.S. Ravi, Tasildar for Sri Lankan Tamils (Tiruvannamalai), told The Hindu.
Along with DRDA officials, K. Tharpagaraj inspected the new houses in the village ahead of its opening by the Chief Minister. “All these years, we have been living in a make-shift house with no basic amenities. The new free houses will end our ordeal, providing a decent living for our children,” said K. Sokki, a resident.
Divided into three phases, DRDA officials said the multi-crore work has provided free houses for 111 benefarcies in 2023 under phase-1 of the project. Of total 830 houses in the on-going phase-II work, 252 houses were given to beneficiaries in October this year (2025) and another 280 houses will be given by Mr. Stalin on December 27 (Saturday). “Remaining 190 houses will be given in the third phase of the project. In other words, all Sri Lankan Tamil families (1,131) in the district will be covered under the initiative,” Mr. Ravi added.
As per norms, each house, on an average, will cost ₹8.10 lakh for the State exchequer. Each house, which will be 291 sq.ft, will have a living room, bedroom, attached washroom and a kitchen. The new house comprises a free water connection and power supply.
The camp with new houses will also get a community centre, a common centre for children and a fair price shop. Approach roads to the camp area from the main road will also be re-laid. The initiative was launched by the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin at a function in Vellore in November 2021.
Tiruvannamalai has the highest number of 11 camps with 3,196 persons. Vellore, Tirupattur and Ranipet have two camps each. A total of 2,239 families have resided in these districts since 1990.
During his visit, Mr. Stalin will also inaugurate 314 completed projects worth ₹2,095 crore. Some of them includes ₹30.15 crore new bus terminus, ₹12.17 crore separate building for public grievances at Collectorate, ₹32.16 crore wholesale vegetable, fruits and flower market complex and ₹Rs 2.83 crore police station for Arunachaleshwara temple.
The Chief Minister will also lay foundation stone for 46 new works including ₹161.90 crore widening of Tiruvannamalai – Harur Main Road, Arcot – Tindivanam Road and Kancheepuram – Thiruvathipuram Road into four-lanes.
Published – December 25, 2025 06:17 pm IST
