Most Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India have been residing in camps in the State
of Tamil Nadu for more than two decades under 24/7 police surveillance, following
the assassination of the Indian prime minister. This article attempts to examine the
trends in the Sri Lankan refugee inflows to India and outflows back to Sri Lanka
through official channels over the last three decades, and the government-sponsored
responses and mechanisms for their welfare and rehabilitation. In addition, it examines
the livelihood options and strategies of the camp refugees based on a primary
survey among 100 households and 12 in-depth case studies in the selected refugee
camps in Tamil Nadu. The study documents that they do have access to relief
assistance from the State Government on humanitarian grounds. Their livelihood
strategies include gainful employment activities outside the camp, reliance on social
networks both in India and abroad, short-duration or seasonal migration, and investment
in human resources such as children’s education. This study opines that
integrating the Tamil refugees into local society could be a durable solution for their
future, especially for those who married Indian citizens and who wish to remain
in India.