Lok Sabha Question No. 3974 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Sri Lankan Refugees in India
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3974 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## SRI LANKAN REFUGEES IN INDIA

3974. SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  State-wise  and  UT-wise  statistics  of  the  total  number  of Sri Lankan Tamils staying in India since the outbreak of civil war  in Sri Lanka in 1983;
- (b) whether Ministry has initiated any housing programme for the Sri  Lankan  Tamils  in  Sri  Lanka  and  if  so,  the  total  amount spent and the total number of beneficiaries and the manner of provision  of  Indian  sponsorship  under  the  Indian  Housing Scheme  for  the  construction  of  houses  for  the  Sri  Lankan Tamils;
- (c) whether  the  Ministry  has  worked  out  an  understanding  with the  new  Government  in  Sri  Lanka  to  provide  education  and employment to the Sri Lankan refugees on their return to their homeland; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) According to the information shared by Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of Odisha, as on 01 January 2016, there are 64,144  refugees  from  Sri  Lanka  staying  in  107  ordinary  camps  in Tamil Nadu and 22 refugees staying in 1 camp in Odisha. In addition, 36,861 refugees are staying outside the camps in Tamil Nadu after registering themselves at the nearest police station.
- (b) Government  of  India  is  undertaking  a  project  to  construct 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka at a cost of INR 1372 crore. Under the

pilot  phase  of  the  Project,  1,000  houses  were  constructed  in Northern Province of Sri Lanka through an Indian Contractor. These houses were handed over to beneficiaries in July 2012. The second phase,  to  construct  or  repair  45,000  houses  in  the  Northern  and Eastern Provinces, is being implemented using an innovative ownerdriven  model,  wherein  the  Government  of  India  arranges  technical support  and  financial  assistance  for  the  owner-beneficiaries  to undertake the construction/repair of their houses themselves. Financial assistance of Sri Lankan Rs. 550,000 per beneficiary (Sri Lankan  Rs.  250,000  in  case  of  repair)  is  released  in  stages,  and transferred  directly  into  the  bank  accounts  of  the  beneficiaries  by the High Commission of India. As of 3 August, 44,200 houses have been  constructed  or  repaired  under  the  second  phase.  For  the remaining  4000  houses,  to  be  undertaken  in  the  Central  and  Uva provinces  for  Indian  Origin  Tamils  under  the  third  phase,  the construction  work  has  begun  on  1134  houses.  The  Government  of Sri Lanka is to identify land for the remaining 2866 houses.

(c) & (d) Government  of  India  encourages  voluntary  repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to Sri Lanka. Government of India has emphasised to Government of Sri Lanka that a conducive environment should be created for Sri Lankan refugees to return to Sri  Lanka on a voluntary basis. Government of Sri Lanka has been extending  facilities,  including  education,  to  Sri  Lankan  citizens returning after staying as refugees in any country, including in India.

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