T. N. government has sanctioned ₹10 crore for upkeep of burial grounds, says Minorities Committee head

The State Minorities Special Inspection Committee’s review meeting was held here on Friday.

Addressing the meeting, chairman of the Committee Inigo S. Irudayaraj said the State Government had allotted ₹10 crore during this fiscal for repairing the compound walls of the burial grounds of Christians and Muslims. Hence, ₹16.13 lakh had been earmarked for constructing compound wall around the burial ground being administered by CSI Church in Koonyioor near Cheranmahadevi and ₹13.02 lakh for constructing the church of Sharon of Church, Puthukkulam.

Of the 34 petitions received during the previous inspection, 22 petitions had been disposed of while the remaining petitions were under scrutiny, Mr. Inigo said.

He also informed that the District Collector had been asked to expeditiously dispose of the petitions seeking permission for construction of churches and the compound walls of the burial grounds of the Christians and the Muslims.

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu and Mr. Inigo disbursed welfare assistances to the tune of ₹21.22 lakh to 271 beneficiaries and Christian Welfare Board cards to 13 persons.

District Collector R. Sukumar, Corporation Commissioner Monika Rana, MP C. Robert Bruce, District Revenue Officer M. Durai, former MP and chairperson of Church Assitants’ Welfare Board Vijila Sathyananth and others participated in the review meeting.