The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, our estate people have lived in hardship not just 76 but 202 years. The NPP government understands this and is working to uplift their lives—education, culture, values, and health. For decades, fathers, sons and grandfathers sat in this Parliament, yet no one identified or officially recognized the hill-country (“Malaiyagam”) people. The NPP government has done so—recognizing them as “Malaiyaga Tamil People.”

¶ 02 We will resolve their issues. In this budget alone, Rs. 4,267 million is allocated for housing and basic infrastructure in the estates—never before done at a national level. Hill-country youth—our brothers and sisters—live in frustration without jobs; Rs. 2,450 million is allocated for their vocational training.

¶ 03 Hill-country schools are at a very low standard; our District’s Deputy Minister for Education is here. There are no facilities in many estate schools—hence Rs. 866 million is allocated for smart classrooms for “Malaiyagam” schools. None of this was provided before. The only government that will truly uplift the hill-country Tamil people is this one. This 10th Parliament, under the NPP, has made the best decisions for their lives. Thank you.