Chennai:
Chief Minister M.K. has appointed the chairman and members of the Overseas Tamil Welfare Board for Tamils living in foreign states and abroad. Stalin ordered.
A press release issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu in this regard states:-
The Government of Tamil Nadu is continuously taking various positive measures for Tamil education, art, culture and exchange of ideas abroad to promote Tamil language, welfare schemes for Tamils living in foreign countries and abroad, consular assistance for them.
In that way, in order to solve the problems of the Tamil people living in different countries, to provide them with the necessary assistance, and to meet the emotional and various needs of the Tamils living in the diaspora, the ‘Expatriate Tamils Welfare Act’ was enacted by the government on March 1, 2011. In addition, a “Migrant Tamil Welfare Board” was formed and it was announced that welfare schemes would be implemented for them, but when there was a change of government, the previous rulers did not come forward to implement it.
In this situation, after the establishment of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin announced that the ‘Abroad Tamils Welfare Board’ would be set up. In order to implement this announcement, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has ordered to set up a Diaspora Tamils Welfare Board with the following chairman, government officials and representatives of Tamils living in the diaspora as members.
Accordingly, Karthikeya Sivasenapati from Old Kottay, Kangeyam District, Tirupur District has been appointed as the Chairman of the Diaspora Tamil Welfare Board. Arumugam Parasuraman living in Mauritius, Muhammad Faisal living in London, Siddiqui Syed Meeran living in United Arab Emirates, Caldwell Velnambi living in North America, Gopalakrishnan Venkataramanan alias GV Ram living in Singapore, A. Meeran and Chennai-based advocate Loomakanti have been appointed as Non-Government Members.
As Government Members – Secretary General, Home, Prohibition and Extermination Department Additional Chief Secretary Government or his nominee, Finance Department Additional Chief Secretary or his nominee, Labor Welfare and Skill Development Department Additional Chief Secretary or his nominee, Non-Resident Tamils related Special Secretary to the Government / Joint Secretary to the Government / Deputy Secretary to the Government, General Department, Director of Management, Overseas Employment Agency, Commissioner Member Secretary of Overseas Tamil Welfare and Rehabilitation Department, who are looking after the work, have also been appointed. The term of office of the chairman and members appointed in this board shall be three years from the date of promulgation of the order.
This board will be created with advance money from the state government as “Overseas Tamil Welfare Fund” to implement the welfare schemes for overseas and overseas Tamils. In addition, Rs 1 crore 40 lakhs as capital expenditure and Rs 3 crores annually for recurrent expenditure, welfare schemes and administrative expenditure.
In order to implement various welfare programs through this board, as it is necessary to collect the details of overseas and non-resident Tamils, a database will be established for them. Accident, life insurance plan, medical insurance plan and identity card will be provided to the enrollees under this scheme. Low-income Tamils who go abroad and die while working there, with a view to protect their families, will be given education grants and marriage allowances to the children of their families who are studying.
There is no doubt that such proactive action by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, will help to spread the spirit of Dematura Tamil in foreign countries, alleviate the sufferings of Tamils living abroad in various states of India, and implement welfare programs for them. This is stated in a government press release.