Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is set to virtually inaugurate 88 newly-built free houses for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Minnur village near Ambur town by the end of January. These houses, constructed by the District Rural Development Agency, are part of the state government’s initiative to provide long-term housing solutions for refugees who have been living in camps since the 1990s. The project aims to offer improved living conditions to families who have been residing in inadequate shelters for years.
The new housing units are specifically targeted at families currently living in Chinnapallikuppam near Ambur, where Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have been based. The completion of the houses, which occurred weeks ago, was delayed pending the official inauguration and allocation process. Following an incident where 18 houses were found occupied by unauthorized individuals on January 21, steps have been taken to ensure prompt handover to the rightful beneficiaries.
Tirupattur District Collector Sivasoundaravalli, in collaboration with DRDA officials, is scheduled to inspect the new housing units soon. The housing scheme, executed in two phases, has already provided free houses to 160 beneficiaries in Phase I completed in 2023. Phase II, set to conclude by the end of this month, will cater to the remaining 88 families. Each house, costing an average of ₹8.10 lakh, includes essential amenities like a living room, bedroom, kitchen, and attached washroom, along with free water and electricity connections.
Apart from individual housing units, the rehabilitation camp will feature communal facilities such as a community center, children’s amenities, a fair price shop, water tanks, a library, and vocational training workshops. The initiative, part of a broader effort to enhance the living standards and integration of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, was kickstarted by the Chief Minister in Vellore in November 2021.
