Inhabitants of Sri Lankan Tamil camp at Moongiloorani urge authorities to expedite housing construction works

More than 190 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee families who were moved out of the rehabilitation centre at Moongiloorani in Sivaganga in 2023 for renovation of the houses, have urged the State government to expedite the construction works.  

Most of the Sri Lankan families had fled to India in 1990 and some in 2002, when the country faced an economic crisis, since then, they have been living in the housing complex at the rehabilitation centre in Sivaganga.  

In 2023, the district administration informed the residents to move out from the housing complex until renovation works were completed, said J. Parameswari, one of the inhabitants.  

Though the administration assured them that work would be completed in a year and they could then relocate to the houses, about 584, mostly widows and elders, relocated to rented houses in the nearby areas, she added.  

While few who could afford the rent shifted nearby, those who couldnot afford the rent the owners demanded, moved to far away locations where the rent was less, Ms. Parameswari noted.  

“It is almost three years now and house owners have increased the rent by ₹1,000 and some even ₹2,000,” she added.  

Being a widow with a child, she said that she could afford to pay only ₹3,000, as her only source of income was from the tuition classes and ₹2,500 assistance given by the government. 

About 60 widows and 75 elders lived in the rehabilitation centre. “Those who can work and earn money settle for even high rent houses, but for people like her, running a family and educating the child with mere income was very tight,” she added.  

At least if the houses were provided to them at the earliest; they could escape from the burden of rent, she said.  

“Though officials say the works are almost complete, road laying works, roof installation, water connection, electricity connection, among others are still pending in the houses,” Ms. Parameswari said.  

Revenue officials said that the work was almost complete and once they get the sanction for other works, they would also be completed soon.