Sri Lankan refugees demand infrastructures

Erode:Sri Lankan women refugees living at the refugee camp in Arachalur value water more than most other things. For, drinking water is a rare commodity in the locality.The women say they are forced to depend on bore well water for cooking."Potable water is not available."We depend on the ground water which is bad for cooking, especially for boiling pulses," says Lalitha, a resident.

The resident say their men folk are forced to cycle or walk to the hand pumps at the main road to fetch water, something that is not possible every day.Their other grievance is that the existing hand pump is inadequate and inefficient."For 186 families there are only three hand pumps," rues Britto, another resident.He wants the Government to erect more hand pumps.Besides the problems on the ground, there is something above their head that is also a constant source of trouble.

"Streetlights are a continuous source of worry for us because they have a habit of glowing only for a few days in a year, and this year's quota is over," quips a youth on conditions of anonymity.Women say they fear moving out in the evenings because of the absence of the lighting that is needed.We need more streetlights, says Ms. Lalitha. The refugees also demand a three-phase connection. The present supply is only two-phase with frequent voltage fluctuations, the refugees further complain.