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Several Eelam Tamil refugees, who fled the island during the 2022 economic crisis in to seek safety in Tamil Nadu, have now called to be returned to the island, amidst neglect in India.
Despite risking their lives to undertake treacherous sea journeys to India, their appeals for assistance and registration within the Indian government’s refugee system were unanswered. Many of them have not been offered any registrations, paperwork or assistance from the Indian government leaving them with no choice but to return to the very land they fled — a move that exposes them to persecution and economic ruin.
This week, group of 13 Eelam Tamil families submitted a petition to the Ramanathapuram District Collector, pleading for assistance and resettlement back on the island.
Since March 20, 2022, Eelam Tamils escaping the economic and humanitarian crisis in the homeland arrived at the shores of Dhanushkodi by boat. To date, 309 individuals have sought refuge, with most accommodated at the Mandapam Eelam Tamil Rehabilitation Camp. However, despite their dire circumstances, these refugees have not been formally registered or recognized as refugees by the Indian government.
This lack of recognition has had profound implications: refugees say they are excluded from receiving basic relief, services, or a pathway to resettlement. Trapped without legal status or income opportunities, many Tamil families have been left to fend for themselves in an increasingly desperate situation.
In recent months, the difficulties and livelihood issues have become too burdensome for the refugees to ignore. Unable to sustain themselves and their families, five Sri Lankan Tamil families recently undertook the perilous journey back to Sri Lanka illegally by sea. These families, like others, face the reality of potential persecution and systemic discrimination awaiting them in Sri Lanka’s North-East.
The plight of these refugees is emblematic of a larger issue: the neglect and marginalization of Eelam Tamils in India.