Sri Lankan Repatriates

Since the beginning of 2009, CTRD has also been working with the Sri Lankan repatriate community, who are present in large numbers in the Niligiri Hills, and who are very underprivileged.

These people are of Indian origin, and are largely descendents of bonded labourers sent from South India to Sri Lanka in the 19th Century, to work on plantations. The Indian Tamil population in Sri Lanka often lived in very poor socio-economic conditions and lacked even citizenship rights. Under an agreement between the Indian and Sri Lankan governments, many were expatriated back to India from Sri Lanka in 1960s, and settled in Tamil Nadu.

The government of Tamil Nadu started tea plantations as a way to assist and provide employment to Sri Lankan repatriates, and many continue to work in this sector.

However, despite the efforts of the Indian government, unfortunately the Sri Lankan repatriates remain an extremely disadvantaged group, who often live in poverty with very little means to support themselves.

Their living conditions frequently lack clean drinking water, electricity and sanitary toilets, which combined with an inadequate diet, results in many health issues.

Repatriate youths have a poor record of education, with children dropping out of school early and experiencing a wide array of social problems.

CTRD are working with this community and forming Women’s groups and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to empower people, provide education and health care, and encourage means for income generation.

In partnership with Raleigh India, new toilet facilities will be built for this community in 2009.