Chennai: Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced setting up of a welfare board for non-resident Tamils with a corpus fund of Rs five crore.
An official release here said the welfare board, with 13 members will be set up as per the provisions of the Tamilnadu Non-Resident Tamilsâ Welfare Act, 2011, which was enacted during the 2006-11 DMK regime headed by then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
Since the AIADMK regime, which subsequently governed the state for two successive terms, did not constitute the board, the DMK government, which returned to power after ten years, announced setting up of the board.
The board would have officials and representatives from the non-resident Tamil community. He said Rs 20 crore would be allocated, which included Rs 6.40 crore for constituting the welfare board and fund, Rs 8.10 crore for various welfare schemes and Rs 5.50 crore for promoting art, literature and cultural exchange.
Stalin said all welfare associations of non-resident Tamils in various countries would be integrated and Rs four crore would be allocated for their cultural exchange and interactions on art and literature.
He also announced that every year 12 January would be observed as the Day of Non-Resident Tamils. With a view to enable non-resident Tamils develop civic infrastructure and schools in their native villages, Stalin announced a new scheme âMy Villageâ.
Under the scheme, they would be invited to extend their help to improve schools, hospitals, libraries in their native villages, the Chief Minister said.
A database of non-resident Tamils would be created and those registered with the board would be extended life and medical insurance policies.
‘In the event of death of emigrants from low income groups, financial assistance will be given to their children for education and marriage,’ the Chief Minister said.
He also announced setting up of a centre to provide legal aid to non-resident Tamils. Pointing out that more than seven lakh workers have returned to Tamilnadu due to the effects of Covid-19 pandemic, Stalin announced allocation of Rs six crore for extending loans to them and make them entrepreneurs.
Since a majority of them were keen to deposit their savings in the State, the Chief Minister said MoUs will be signed to enable them to deposit their savings in government and other industries.
He also said steps would be taken to impart Tamil lessons to non-resident Tamils through the Tamil Virtual University. In addition to the counselling sessions held in Chennai to enable hose intending to emigrate for higher education and employment, sessions would be held in Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Kanniyakumari, Thanjavur, Perambalur, Sivaganga and Villupuram districts.