Refugee-camp saga of Northern Tamils to end
by P. Krishnaswamy
The saga of refugee-camp life of the Northern Tamils will come to an
end next month with the resettlement of the last batch of 15,000 IDPs in
the Mullaitivu District. These IDPs are now housed in the Menik Farm
Welfare village in Vavuniya.
Mullaitivu GA, A. Pathinathan told the Sunday Observer that the
resettlement of these IDPs was being delayed due to the ongoing demining
process in their original villages.
Considering the inordinate delay in the resettlement process the
Government has now decided to resettle them in other nearby villages in
the district where de-mining has been completed and arrangements have
been made to provide them all infrastructure and livelihood facilities,
the GA said.
Tenders have already been awarded to construct the Divisional
Secretariat, living quarters for Government officials, renovation of the
hospital in Pudukudiyiruppu and the construction of a veterinary
surgeon’s office, GA Pathinathan said.
Of the 23 mine-infested divisions, mine-clearing has already been
completed in 10 divisions in the Pudukudiyiruppu AGA division and the
IDPs will be resettled in two villages, he said, adding that they would
be moved to their original Kaiveli and Kombavil villages when de-mining
is completed in those villages.
Since the villages where the families are to be resettled are very
fertile with extensive state lands and abundant water resources, each
family would be allotted half-an-acre to one acre of arable land with
provision of all assistance to engage themselves in agricultural
activities, the GA said.
Their children will be provided health and educational facilities, he
said.
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