TN Government to Provide Three Meals a Day to Sri Lankan Tamils at Mandapam Camp

The Tamil Nadu government announced on Saturday a proposal to provide nutritious food three times a day to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees residing at the Mandapam Camp in Ramanathapuram district. The decision, shared by official sources in Chennai, aims to support displaced families who recently arrived in India due to the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation.

The initiative was prompted by reports indicating that the recently arrived Sri Lankan Tamils were unable to obtain proper food at the camp. In response, the state government decided to establish a dedicated kitchen within the Mandapam Camp facility to supply three daily meals to the residents.

To execute the plan, the government has officially floated a tender to appoint a professional catering service. According to a senior official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the scheduled meal times have already been structured to ensure consistency. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m., lunch at 1:30 p.m., and dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Special attention is being paid to the dietary needs of younger residents. For children at the camp, the morning breakfast menu is set to consist of nutritious items including milk, biscuits, idly, dosa, egg, Bengal gram, peas, and poori.

Currently, the state government administers support to the displaced population through its Department of Rehabilitation. This department is responsible for providing a wide range of camp management services designed to ensure the overall well-being of the Sri Lankan Tamils living in these rehabilitation camps.

In addition to the new food security measures, the Department of Rehabilitation continues to provide essential housing amenities to the residents. These measures are part of the state's ongoing commitment to ensuring safety, stability, and a life of dignity for the displaced families during their stay in the camps.