Sri Lankan refugees resist relocation plan
Over 700 Sri Lankan refugees living at the Gopalasamudram camp are speaking out against plans to move them to new housing close to the Western Ghats.
Their current camp, while basic, is close to schools, hospitals, and transport—making daily life and earning a living possible.
The proposed site would leave them isolated and disrupt everything from jobs to kids' education.
Move to new site means kids will have to walk...
Most of these refugees have called Tamil Nadu home since fleeing civil war decades ago.
Moving them now means a four-kilometer walk through forests just to reach essentials like shops or clinics.
They've asked officials to build houses right where they already live so they can keep their routines and support their families.
Their protest also highlights bigger local issues—like water shortages and concerns over fair use of government funds—that affect both refugees and locals alike.