Minister inaugurates library at Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Camp in Thappathi; residents petition for citizenship

Minister for Non Resident Tamils Welfare K. Thennarasu on Thursday inaugurated a library built at a cost of ₹20 lakh at Sri Lankan Tamils Rehabilitation Camp at Thappathi in Thoothukudi district.

Following the inauguration, Mr. Thennarasu inspected the 300 houses being constructed at the camp at a cost ₹20.62 crore.

Thoothukudi District Collector Vishu Mahajan, Director of Non-Residents Tamils Welfare Board R. Sadheesh and other officials were present at the event.

During his visit, the residents of Thappathi camp urged the Minister to take steps to facilitate the grant of Indian citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamils living in rehabilitation camps across Tamil Nadu.

Thappathi camp president K. Ananthraj submitted a petition to the Minister. In the petition, the residents highlighted that they had been living as refugees in 103 locations across Tamil Nadu for the past 36 years. They urged the government to take steps to facilitate the grant of Indian citizenship to them and issue passports to enable them to travel from India to other countries.

They further sought the government to construct houses for all families in the camps and enable them to purchase houses and lands in their own names. They also sought steps to extend the Chief Minister’s health insurance scheme to them, establish playgrounds and provide sports equipment in all camps.