Plans on for insurance scheme for Tamils living abroad for work

Taking cognizance of the plight of Tamils working abroad, the Tamil Nadu government is set to put in place a system to track them, aid them in their hour of crisis, insure them and offer financial assistance when they plan to return, says minister of minorities welfare, Wakf Board and Non-Resident Tamils welfare Gingee K S Masthan . In an interview to Shanmughasundaram J , he details the measures being taken for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees including a new housing project and better living conditions in the camps until the DMK government’s plea for granting them citizenship is accepted.

Tamils who go to foreign countries in search of a livelihood are exploited by their employers and cheated by agencies, particularly during the pandemic. What are the efforts being taken to address these issues?

We have been looking into the problems of Tamils going to foreign countries for jobs. We have held meetings with Non-Resident Tamils (NRT) associations in 13 different countries including the US, Saudi Arabia, Singapore. Based on that, we are planning to come up with various measures to protect the rights of the people and ensure their well-being.

One of the key measures is registration. It will be compulsory for every Tamil going to foreign countries for a job to register with the ministry. We will collect details of their employers/agencies, nature of job and location of their worksite. This will help us keep track of them and also reach out to them quickly when they need assistance.

In your meetings with NRTs, what were the major problems raised by them?

Many NRT associations and representatives said families of those who may have been killed in an accident at the workplace or those who died of other causes find it difficult to get back their mortal remains. They lamented that many of them were being cheated by the employers when it comes to the nature of the job and wages. We will take corrective measures to address these issues.

What kind of corrective measures would they be?

We are planning to introduce an insurance scheme exclusively for Tamils going to foreign countries for jobs to create a safety net for them and their families. If they meet with an accident or something goes wrong in a foreign land, the victim or their families would get financial support. We are in talks with insurance companies to launch insurance covers specially designed for them.

Besides, we are working on establishing exclusive units (help desk) for Gulf countries and countries that have a high population of Tamils. The officials attached to the units will be in touch with the embassy of the respective country. Similarly, we are devising a scheme to extend financial support to those returning home to start small businesses. Training in the respective trade/vocation before workers leave for foreign shores is also on the cards.

NRTs in Gulf countries are worried that their children are being denied an opportunity to learn their mother tongue as Indian schools do not offer Tamil. Will the TN government intervene?

Definitely, we will take appropriate measures to ensure that the children of Tamils living in foreign countries are able to learn Tamil language in the schools. It is their right and our government will ensure it.

One of the pre-poll promises of the DMK is to get Indian citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils. What is the government doing about that?

Our chief minister has taken up the issue with the Union government to obtain citizenship for them. Until it comes through, we will ensure their safety and take efforts to implement all welfare schemes effectively.

The Sri Lankan refugee camps are in a poor condition and lack basic amenities. Any steps to correct the situation?

We have inspected several Sri Lankan refugee camps. They live in houses built 30 years ago, many of these are in a dilapidated condition. The government is going to launch a new housing scheme for them. In the first phase, nearly 1,000 houses will come up in Dindigul district at a cost of ₹20 crore. We have inspected the proposed site for the project.

At present, district collectors and district rural development agencies have been asked to ensure basic amenities - particularly drinking water and proper roads. For instance, the Sri Lankan Tamils in one of the camps in Trichy requested for a water tank during the inspection. It was sanctioned immediately, and the collector assured that the work would be completed within a month. In another camp, they asked for an anganwadi, and the work for it has been taken up.

Former CM M Karunanidhi waived tuition fees for the children of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and allowed them to pursue medicine and other courses. But the children were not allowed to pursue medicine and agriculture courses after 1991. Will the government look into this?

At present, the NEET issue is going on. So, we have to look at possible options. We will take the issue to our CM and do the needful.

There is a demand from the minorities to retrieve the land of Wakf Board from encroachers. Has any action been taken in this regard?

Unlike the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department, the land allocated to Wakf Board is caught in various legal issues. In some cases, the person donating the land to a particular mosque would write a will that allows only his/her family member to maintain the property. Only they can be authorised to take decisions related to the property. So, we have to look into such legal issues when it comes to land related to the Wakf board.

What is the priority of the ministry?

Several schemes for the minorities have remained on paper. We will implement the schemes in letter and spirit. We will identify talent among minorities and honour them. Our CM has also welcomed our proposals. We will put everything into practice in a phased manner.

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