Title: Assessing the employment security of Sri Lankan Tamil camp living refugees in Tamil Nadu, India

Authors: P. Maneesh; C.C. Shameem; C. Muniyandi

Addresses: Department of Economics, School of Liberal Arts and Applied Science, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Arts, KLEF (Deemed to be University), Vaddeswaram, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Department of Econometrics, School of Economics, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are moping in refugee camps without protection for their fundamental rights, including the opportunity to work and increase financial autonomy, which is crucial to rebuilding their dignity and self-esteem after a terrible experience with their nation. Since India has not ratified any refugee convention or other international instrument, the best way to attribute to it a commitment to refugee rights is to widen universal human rights and worldwide humanitarian law to include refugee law and refugee protection. This study examines livelihood security for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India. One thousand camp-living refugees from Madurai, Tiruvallur, Erode, Tiruvannamalai, and Vellore were surveyed. The study indicated that refugees' economic conditions had not changed after three decades in the host country. Their refugee status limits their economic progress. Lack of livelihoods and constraints has slowed their development. 76.1% had trouble getting a work, while 23.9% did not. The camp's remote location affected 28.1% of respondents. The camps' remoteness and poor educational and skill levels reduce work stability. Refugees' labour boosts the host nation's economy. Refugees need improved policies and an unrestricted camp to live better.

Keywords: statelessness; landlessness; economic security; livelihood sustenance; local integration; refugee status; relief assistance; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEF.2025.145266

International Journal of Electronic Finance, 2025 Vol.14 No.2, pp.229 - 245

Received: 05 Apr 2023
Accepted: 09 Jun 2023
Published online: 31 Mar 2025 *

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