Longing for equal status: impact of housing intervention on identity and status of Indian origin Tamil resettlers from two selected plantations in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Often the relationship between majority groups and the minority groups are beset with problems. In most societies, minority groups experience exclusion, lack of recognition and under privileges. They face difficulties in interacting with mainstream society dominated by privileged groups. Tamils of Indian origin who came to Sri Lanka to work in coffee, tea and rubber plantations during the British period, are considered one of the minority groups in Sri Lanka. They have been marginalized by mainstream society in a number of ways, resulting in their continued low social status in society. Some of the developmental interventions of the government were successful in altering the unfavourable status of the Estate Origin Tamils. A study was conducted to understand how far and in what ways the housing interventions in the plantation sector served to enhance the social status of Estate Origin Tamils. This paper provides a summary of the findings of this study.