Paper short abstract:

This paper is about how refugees who have lived in the camps in South India have become a self sustaining community converting themselves into resource persons who are getting ready to rebuild a war torn nation.

Paper long abstract:

The ethnic war in Sri Lanka has displaced over 700000 Tamils. Since 1983 the Tamils have constantly been seeking refugee in many western countries. This has been based on their social and familial connections. The poorest of the poor who wanted to save their lives came to Tamil Nadu, India's southern most state seeking refuge. They are housed in 111 camps all over the State. Despite not being a signatory to the 1951 refugee convention. The Central and state governments have been taking care of the refugees providing them with free accommodation, water, electricity, education, health benefits and a dole to sustain themselves.

OfERR a refugee self help organization was instrumental in securing much of the needs of the refugees. This paper will discuss the systematic interventions undertaken by the organization in redying the refugees to return. Some of the examples are: there are 2500 graduates from the refugee community, people have been trained in over 100 skills. The focus on human capital, especially the human being has lead to a transformation of the community.

Now when people are beginning to trickle back to the home land they are able to find themselves prepared to face the challenge.

The presentation will be substantiated with the documentary evidence that ranges over the last 27 years.