As part of a project sponsored by the government of Tamil Nadu, a group of Eelam Tamil women from refugee camps in Kulaththuvaaipatti, Maappillaiyoorani and Thaappaaththi have teamed up to open the very first traditional Eelam Tamil restaurant in the industrial complex of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
The project promoting self-reliance is funded by the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils, the Government of Tamil Nadu, the United Nations Refugee Agency and the Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation.
The restaurant, Olai Puttu Kadai was inaugurated by MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Thursday. The event was attended by Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister Geetha Jeevan and Collector Dr K Senthil Raj.
At the inauguration, Collector K. Senthil Raj spoke on the similarities between Eelam Tamils and Indian Tamils, claiming they could not be considered ‘foreigners’. He commented on the shared culture, food and festivals. Collector Raj commented on the name of the restaurant, ‘Olai’, which means palm leaf, which has long been part of Tamil history and culture. In times of old, Tamil ancestors used the leaves to write poems and cures using native medicine practices. In modern times palm leaves are used in celebrations and to serve food.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Refugee Agency, Mr Sachidanandam Valan said: “Each of the 300 self-help groups in the rehabilitation camps is given Rs. 1.25 lakh as revolving fund to create their own business ventures so as to make the women self-sufficient. In this line, we’ve formed ‘Saathanaippookkal’ SHG with women with culinary skills to serve yummy food of Sri Lanka to the customers here. The women members of ‘Olai Puttu’ have been trained by the experts of Advantage Foods Private Limited to make this first of its kind venture successful,”.
An estimated 58,000 Eelam Tamil refugees reside in Tamil Nadu, many of whom continue to suffer in state-designated refugee camps.
K.Makkikkavasagam (name changed on request), an inmate of Madapam camp near Rameswaram, Told Huffpost India,
“In the camps, we live in the shadow of fear and insecurity. We are not allowed to move around in town. There are restrictions on talking to the media. All our basic rights have been curtailed. Three or four decades in a camp means you are incapable of doing anything worthwhile in life. We are always discriminated.”
Last year scores of Eelam Tamil refugees staged protests demanding relief from the Indian government. In the camp in Trichy, several attempted to commit suicide as they demanded their release. from the camp.