TN govt to sanction Rs 25 cr to improve Sri Lankan refugee camps [August 05 2011]

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday said it would sanction Rs 25 crore to improve houses and basic amenities in refugee camps housing Sri Lankan Tamils.

“Further, 416 women Self Help Groups in the camps will be provided with a revolving fund of Rs 10,000 each,” Finance Mminister O Panneerselvam said in his budget speech.

The present monthly cash dole for the head of the family would be increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000, for each additional adult member from Rs 288 to Rs 750 and for children aged below 12 years, to Rs 400, he said.

The government also noted it has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court to retrieve Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka.

Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974. -The Hindu