It has been announced that the newly constituted Welfare Board for Non-resident Tamils will extend all forms of assistance including, embassy assistance and tirelessly work for the propagation of Tamil art, culture and exchange of new ideas. It will also extent benefits such as accident cover, and life insurance.
Coimbatore: Tamils have been living around the globe for many centuries. Many countries in the world play host of the non-resident Tamils and Tamil diaspora is living in every continent in the globe, thus making the ethnic Tamils a global community.
In order to protect the interests of such Tamils living abroad, the Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Act was passed during the earlier DMK regime and setting up of welfare board was also announced.
But, the move failed to take off during the subsequent AIADMK regime which came to power in 2011.
It was announced that a 'Non-Resident Welfare Board' would be formed and welfare schemes would be implemented for them. However, after the AIADMK took over in 2011, the plan was shelved.
But things are looking up after the DMK government assumed power in 2020, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, announcing the formation of a 'Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Board.
Karthikeya Sivasenapathi of Pazhayakottai in Kangeyam taluk of Tirupur district has been appointed as the Chairman of the Non-Resident Tamil Welfare Board. He is already functioning as the secretary of the DMK's Environment wing.
The following eminent personalities have also been appointed as its members.
Arumugam Parasuraman from Mauritius, where there is a sizeable number of Tamil diaspora, Muhammad Faisal from the UK living in London, Siddique Syed Meeran from the United Arab Emirates, Caldwell Velnambi living in North America and G.V. Ram alias Gopalakrishnan Venkataramanan from Singapore have been appointed as members of the Board..
While the term of office of the Chairman and the members appointed to the Welfare Board is three years. The State Government has allocated Rs.5 crore as 'Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Fund' to implement welfare schemes for non-resident Tamils.
In addition, a sum of Rs.1.40 crore has been allocated as capital expenditure.
The Chairman of the Board, Karthikeya Sivasenapathi, who is well versed in various aspects of Tamil culture and traditions of the Tamils, along with the appointed members would strive hard for the welfare of the Tamils living abroad.
Various types of welfare benefits may be available to non-resident Tamils through the Non-Resident Tamil Welfare Board from here on.
In the first phase, a database will be set up to obtain the details of Tamils living abroad so as to enable them to avail various welfare schemes through the welfare board.
The non resident Tamils, who register with the board will be covered with benefits such as accident and life insurance cover, health insurance plan and also, they will be issued with an identity card.
Similarly, with the objective of protecting the families of poor Tamils who go abroad for work, the board would extend educational scholarships and marriage assistance to the children, in case of sudden death of the emigrated Tamil.
Thus, the Non-Resident Tamil Welfare Board will act as bridge between Tamil Nadu and Tamils living all over the world in a fitting and able manner.