[ VOLUME 6 I ISSUE 2 I – JUNE 2019] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 SRI LANKAN TAMIL REFUGEES IN : AN OVERVIEW

R.Sankar Guest Faculty, Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, Kamaraj University, Madurai- 625 021.

Received: March 01, 2019 Accepted: April 13, 2019

ABSTRACT: : bears a long history with before and later independence. Since the independence of Sri Lanka, gradual changes have been occurring in the political atmosphere. The island is made up of different linguistic communities; the relationship between them is not sound to keep the island’s peace. The bearing of the Tamil minority was deprecated by the new Sri Lankan government and fell out the Act. Afterward, the situation in Sri Lanka was quite different and there was massive violence staged across the island. In 1975, LTTE was formed to fight for an independent state on the island. Their demand for the independent nation was avoided by the authorities. The conflict reached its acme in 1983 where a large number of were displaced and many flee the island to seek refuge in India and other nations. India’s policy towards the refugees was highly appreciable as the influx was managed with generous policies. The Indian Government offers basic medical attention and education for school-age Sri Lankan children as well as subsidized food grain for the camp’s inhabitants. Despite these provisions, conditions in the camps are generally poor with insufficient health and sanitary facilities available for the refugee population. As of today, there are as many as 66156 Sri Lankan Refugees living in approximately 113 refugee camps in Tamil Nadu alone that are situated in 28 out of 32 districts within the state. Since the influx of Tamil community in India, a few attempts have made to repatriate them that are criticized on the humanitarian ground. The repatriation was involuntary and the government of both countries was failing to guarantee the access of basic facilities in the conflict-prone zone of Sri Lanka. This resulted in the return flow of Sri Lankan Tamil to India. This study is an attempt to find out the demographic characteristics of Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees in Tamil Nadu. The study entirely rests with secondary sources of information collected from reports of Tamil Nadu Government, Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non- Resident Tamils, UNHCR and OfEER. In addition, articles and books also served as the major source of information. The study reveals that in the earlier years of arrival, refugees are welcomed by local people and given support. Since the assassination of and spread the fear of militant activities had resulted in confinement of refugees for a long period. Today, refugees are set free, but their basic rights are kept back and living condition in certain camps is highly reprehensible.

Key Words: Ethnic Conflict, Sri Lanka, Refugees, Demography, Refugee Camps.

I. INTRODUCTION India has a long connection with Sri Lanka as it is the neighbouring nation found 20 miles from the southern tip of India. During the nineteenth century, British East India Company procured Tamil works from Tamil Nadu to work in the coffee and tea estates in Sri Lanka. The works purchased from India are settled in the north-eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan populace involves for the most part Buddhist people. The Tamils from India are Hindus and are called later known as . Seeds of the contention were sown after independence from the Europeans in 1948, not long after which the new legislature of the Sinhalese-overwhelmed disappointed Tamil estate labourers; the Sinhalese larger part stirred more opposition when it made Sinhala, as opposed to ethnic-nonpartisan English, the national language in 1956, and advanced strategies that further disappointed the Tamil minority (Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, 2013). Pressures ejected in an equipped clash in 1983, with the July revolts that killed thousands while the mainstream patriot LTTE propelled assaults asserting both military and regular citizen lives. The absence of security in their nations of origin makes them look for a haven in another nation. The absence of facilities in the nations of shelter abandons them disappointed with a low personal satisfaction. To a displaced person, the most imperative thing is to be alive, as being alive outweighs their personal satisfaction. The vast majority of these refugees have fled after some time leaving all that they had worked in their lifetime and that of their progenitors. Having left the entirety of their things back in their nation of origin, refugees additionally desert their confidence, fearlessness, personality, dreams for the future, and so forth. When they achieved the shores of India, a significant number of them were without common things, yet additionally did not have the soul. The troubles they looked at the port of passage, being grouped into camps, the suspicious on-lookers

550헑 IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews Research Paper [VOLUME 6 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL – JUNE 2019] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236 stripped what minimal sense of pride stayed in them. The greater part of the evacuees in the camps don't live they simply exist. However many have recovered and have done marvels with what small amount that they have. The youthful displaced people go to class and school; the more seasoned ones work and put something aside for the day when they will be back in their nation. Today, there is a ton of expectation in their lives, because of the Organization for Refugee Rehabilitation, which always rouses them towards setting themselves up for nation-building.

II. SRI LANKAN TAMIL REFUGEES IN TAMIL NADU The mass inundation of Sri Lankan refugees had initiated on 24.07.1983 and had held delayed history of haven in India. The refugees had landed in four stages to Tamil Nadu. In the primary stage 1,34,053 displaced people touched base to Tamil Nadu which was start in 1983 and kept on working 1987. Table 1 indicates periods of Sri Lankan refugee person's flood to India. Table 1: Phase of Refugees Influx Phases Period Inflow Phase – I 24.07.83 to 31.12.1987 1,34,053 Phase – II 25.08.89 to 30.04.1991 1,22,078 Phase – III 31.07.96 to 31.08.2003 22,418 Phase – IV 12.01.06 to 04.01.2010 24,527 Total 3,03,076 Source: Department Of Rehabilitation, Tamil Nadu

The second flood of refugees touched base in 1989 and finished in 1991. The third flood of refugees deluge started in 31.07.1996, harmonizing with the statement of Elam war III. Accordingly Sri Lankan armed force and Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Elam (LTTE) have battled together in Sri Lanka. The immediate fight between Sri Lankan armed force and LTTE, the fourth rush of refugees inundation had started in January 2016 and proceeded till January of 2010. 8,450 families comprising of 24,527 people including 18,222 grown-ups and 6,305 youngsters have touched base at Rameswaram amid the fourth stage. All in all, 3,03,076 are came to India since 1983 and around one lakhs of outcasts are repatriated in Two stages (First stage from 1987 To 1989 and Second stage from 1992 To 1995). Sri Lankan refugees remain generally in Tamil Nadu and live in refugee camps dispersed over the state. At present, in excess of 66156 thousand Sri Lankan refugees live in more than 113 camps in Tamil Nadu. Also, a further 30,000 Sri Lankans are living outside the administration camps. Those that live outside must enrol with the neighbourhood police and visit the camps on a fortnightly premise to enlist their participation. The issues identified with human right infringement are by all accounts extremely high in refugee camps. Their entitlement to the development and appropriate to live have been dealt with indiscriminately and the organization of some refugee camps is like jails. In the prior long stretches of landing, displaced people are invited by neighbourhood individuals and given help. Since the death of Rajiv Gandhi had spread the dread of aggressor exercises. Total 2: Details of Refugees Camps in Tamil Nadu

No. of Single Total No. of Sl.No District Total Camps Families Persons Families 1 4 1029 150 3221 2 Cuddalore 4 439 65 1390 3 Dharmapuri 8 698 79 2433 4 Dindigul 7 1016 120 3407 5 Erode 3 1209 151 4713 6 Kanniyakumari 4 425 51 1420 7 2 637 85 2052 8 Krishnagiri 2 329 23 1151 9 Madurai 3 1570 170 5881 10 Namakkal 3 701 122 2247 11 Perambalur 1 76 12 260 Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 551헑 [ VOLUME 6 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL– JUNE 2019] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 12 Pudukkottai 3 1009 142 3369 13 Ramanathapuram 1 629 0 2125 14 Salem 8 864 98 3457 15 Sivaganga 6 1061 138 3486 16 Theni 2 5 0 24 17 Thiruvallur 2 1364 193 4562 18 3 496 0 1659 19 2 926 136 2951 20 9 852 133 2717 21 13 1109 155 3574 22 5 321 65 992 23 Vellore 6 1085 116 3690 24 Villupuram 2 518 63 1800 25 Virudhunagar 7 1081 0 3522 Special camp 26 Kancheepuram 1 40 0 40 27 Thiruvallur 1 8 0 8 28 Trichy 1 5 0 5 Total 113 19502 2267 66156

Source: Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation.

There are upwards of 66156 Sri Lankan refugees living in around 113 refugee camps in Tamil Nadu alone that are arranged in 28 out of 32 districts inside the state. A portion of these camps are very huge and can suit in excess of 1000 families. Such expansive camps with a limit of lodging more than 1000 families are situated in the accompanying six regions of Tamil Nadu like Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Erode, Madurai, Shivaganga and Mandapam. Every one of these six locales has ingested and obliged at least 3,500 refugee people throughout the years (, 2008). The arranged in activity by the decision government has evaded issues related to mass migration. Amid the 1983 mass migration, when the entry of Sri Lankan refugees was at a pinnacle, the officeholder Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M. G. Ramachandran had the foreknowledge to draw up an arrangement that sent clumps of arriving exiles to whatever number diverse locale as would be prudent. This would guarantee that they were not all restricted in a couple of spots and no specific region bore the whole budgetary and social weight. Under the arrangement, the different District Collectors of the considerable number of regions in the state were coordinated to allocate land and assets for the restoration of refugees. This strategy of dispersal has figured out how to give the displaced people various focal points too. It enabled them to have all the more living space and guaranteed better openings for work – particularly for the general population who figured out how to achieve an asylum close to one of the District Headquarters. An expansive number of refugee camps are situated in Tiruvannamalai region, which involves thirteen camps pursued by Tirunelveli (9), Selam (8) and Dharmapuri (8). Moreover, Madurai regions have obliged 1570 refugees families, where three camps are involved in the area and are the greatest camps based on the family measure. The quantity of families in Tiruvannamalai area is 1109, in this manner refugee camps in Tiruvannamalai, all in all holds the fourth position in the family measure. The biggest number of refugees is conceded in three camps of Madurai region, in particular, Anaiyur (2440), Thiruvathavur (1761) and Uchapatti (1680) and all out refugees in Madurai area is 5881 people. Three special camps are situated in Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Trichy regions. Table 3: Age Wise Distribution of Refugees Children Adults Total 0 to 8 Between Between 18 Yrs. Sl. No. District Years 9-11 Yrs 12-17 Yrs. & above No of Male Female Male Female Total Male Female Male Female Persons 1 Coimbatore 221 166 118 115 620 454 533 843 771 3221 2 Cuddalore 102 116 56 48 322 108 77 439 444 1390 3 Dharmapuri 180 174 109 95 558 251 224 710 690 2433 4 Dindigul 272 227 147 102 748 355 492 991 821 3407

552헑 IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews Research Paper [VOLUME 6 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL – JUNE 2019] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236

5 Erode 676 661 116 104 1557 470 431 1148 1107 4713 6 Kanniyakumari 111 96 68 65 340 115 109 434 422 1420 7 Karur 210 228 14 17 469 251 234 509 589 2052 8 Krishnagiri 104 77 70 66 317 185 129 272 248 1151 9 Madurai 527 547 139 160 1373 1190 995 1068 1255 5881 10 Namakkal 188 173 59 65 485 164 150 699 749 2247 11 Perambalur 13 13 13 16 55 23 23 81 78 260 12 Pudukkottai 300 319 91 93 803 426 358 834 948 3369 13 Ramanathapuram 263 279 42 17 601 445 407 286 386 2125 14 Salem 234 225 216 174 849 511 538 838 721 3457 15 Sivaganga 321 325 109 131 886 333 348 935 984 3486 16 Theni 2 4 1 3 10 2 2 5 5 24 17 Thiruvallur 357 323 144 217 1041 735 543 951 1292 4562 18 Thoothukudi 278 247 11 41 577 125 104 420 433 1659 19 Tiruchirappalli 271 284 30 11 596 301 301 846 907 2951 20 Tirunelveli 253 240 103 80 676 158 160 847 876 2717 21 Tiruvannamalai 282 274 121 114 791 368 368 1110 937 3574 22 Tiruppur 93 83 36 20 232 65 51 317 327 992 23 Vellore 367 338 80 92 877 466 369 918 1060 3690 24 Villupuram 225 191 43 77 536 174 190 384 516 1800 25 Virudhunagar 321 272 156 114 863 461 445 874 879 3522 Special camp 26 Kancheepuram 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 0 40 Thiruvallur 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 8 Trichy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 Source: Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation.

The refugees aged 0-8 years has involves 6171 male and 5882 female. The substantial number of youngsters beneath the age of 8 is recorded in Erode region. Youngsters in the middle of 9-11of age establish 16182. Out of this, 2092 are male and 2037 are female. Vast number of youngsters in this age is situated in Selam. All out grown-up populace of evacuees in Tamil Nadu comprise 49974 people. Out of this, 15717 individuals are in the middle of 12-17 years of age and 34257 are matured over 18. From the grown- up populace, absolute male is 24948 and number of female is 25026. The number of refugee families in 2009 was 19593, which was expanded to 19741 out of 2011 and declined to 19435 out of 2016. The grown-up male and female proportion is genuinely steady and declining. The number of kid male and female in 2011 was 8699 and 8391, which was 9542 and 9090 out of 2009 separately. In January 2016, kid male and the female distinction are 10. Figure 1: Trend in refugee’s population from 2009 to 2016

Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 553헑 [ VOLUME 6 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL– JUNE 2019] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 The government of Tamil Nadu has been giving a monthly dole of Rs.1000 and free education to refugees. However, the interest in citizenship not gets genuine consideration from different governments. The nonsegregated existence with neighbourhood network and their social and semantic fondness have brought the likelihood. Refugees entitlement to move is limited to camp environment and the nonappearance of socio, economic and political rights have escalated the seriousness in enduring camps. There is a need to sympathize exile's craving before shaping each approach. At that point, just the current issues settled. The improvement in way of life contrasted with before has actuated the refugees to return.

III. CONCLUSION India has not signed any convention or some other universal instrument relating with refugees, the best way to attribute to it a commitment to secure the privileges of refugees, is to broaden the enlarging law of global human rights law and worldwide compassionate rule to incorporate global exile law and refugee insurance inside its wide ambit. As such, it is conceivable to guarantee that refugee people in India have concurred the acknowledgement and rights that they merit under the worldwide standard. India's aversion toward defining a law for refugees can be countered by receiving a complete and uniform displaced person strategy which will enable it to keep up its respective relations with neighbouring nations and, in the meantime, address the issue of insurance of refugees' rights. The global refugee security routine would expect India to expand offices in the idea of professional preparing, wellbeing offices and essential instruction, so as to empower outcasts to practice the all-inclusive ideal to work. This remaining parts troublesome, in light of India's security concerns. Refugee streams present a hazard to national security; outfitted refugees demonstrate hard to oversee and the expansion in the interest for accessible assets bothers clashes over limited resources.

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