NRT Welfare Minister Thennarasu Reviews Housing for Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees, 6,010 Homes Completed

PRESS RELEASE Under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister for Non-Resident Tamils' Welfare Thiru K. Senthilnarasu, a review meeting was held today (17.06.2026) at the Secretariat regarding the current progress of construction works being carried out under the scheme to build new houses for Sri Lankan Tamils living in camps in Tamil Nadu. The Government of Tamil Nadu is implementing various welfare schemes for Sri Lankan Tamils living in Tamil Nadu. In this regard, 105 temporary camps have been set up across 29 districts of Tamil Nadu, housing 56,638 persons from 19,710 families. In 77 Sri Lankan Tamil camps across 28 districts of Tamil Nadu, 10,469 new houses are being constructed - replacing severely dilapidated houses - with financial assistance from the Rehabilitation Department for Sri Lankan Tamils, through the Rural Development and Panchayats Department. Of these, 6,010 new houses have been completed and handed over to beneficiaries in 52 Sri Lankan Tamil camps across 24 districts. A review meeting was held today (17.06.2026) at the Secretariat, in the presence of Hon'ble Minister for Non-Resident Tamils' Welfare Thiru K. Senthilnarasu, regarding the progress of construction of the remaining 4,459 houses being built across 30 camps in 17 districts. At this review meeting, it was decided that: 1. Steps should be taken to provide women's rights entitlement amounts to women residing in the Sri Lankan Tamils' rehabilitation camps; 2. Steps should be taken to include Sri Lankan Tamils who are not included in the camp registration records into the camp registrations; 3. House construction works being carried out for people residing in Sri Lankan Tamils' rehabilitation camps should be completed expeditiously and the houses handed over to beneficiaries, and arrangements should be made for early inauguration ceremonies for houses fully completed in Tiruppur and Krishnagiri districts, as requested by the Hon'ble Minister for Non-Resident Tamils' Welfare to departmental officials. The meeting was attended by Tmt. Reetha Harish Thakkar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Public and Rehabilitation Department; Tmt. E. Sundaravalli, IAS, Special Secretary to Government; Thiru R. Sathees, IAS, Director, Rehabilitation Department for Sri Lankan Tamils; and senior officials from the Rural Development Department. ********* Issued By: Director, DIPR, Chennai-9