Granting voting rights to Sri Lankan Tamil women

Millions of Sri Lankan Tamils sought refuge in India and other countries due to conflict between the country’s army and  the LTTE. They found shelter in Tamil Nadu camps, but denied citizenship and voting rights.
However, amidst this plight, hope has shined  through the story of NaliniKrupakaran, a 38-year-old woman who has been residing in a special refugee camp in Trichy. After a lengthy legal battle, Nalini has emerged victorious, securing her right to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections, and thereby obtaining Indian citizenship.
Nalini's journey towards suffrage began in 2021 when her initial application for an Indian passport was rejected. Undeterred, she pursued legal recourse, ultimately leading to a landmark decision by the Madurai Division Bench of the Madras High Court, which directed the authorities to issue her an Indian passport based on her birth certificate from the Mandapam camp in Rameswaram.
With her newfound voter ID card, Nalini is set to cast her vote in tomorrow's parliamentary elections, marking the first instance of a resident of an Sri LankanTamil refugee camp exercising their electoral rights in the country. Her triumph instills hope in the hearts of the thousands of other refugees residing in similar camps across the state, who eagerly anticipate the day when they too will be granted citizenship and the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Nalini's success underscores the importance of ensuring that all refugees in camps are afforded their fundamental rights. Let us extend our gratitude to Nalini and all those who supported her in her legal battle, including the dedicated efforts of lawyer Romero.As we welcome the arrival of spring, let us also extend our warm wishes to all Sri Lankan Tamil refugees residing on Indian soil, hoping that they may soon find solace and security in their newfound citizenship rights.