The Organization for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR) was founded in 1984 with the main objective of assisting and rendering relief to Tamil refugees from Ceylon who had taken refugee in India. There are presently more than a hundred thousand such refugees in the State of Tamil Nadu and 78,500 of them are sheltered in the 119 Refugee camps run by the government spread throughout the state. New arrivals since 2006 numbering more than 19,080 have been accommodated in existing camps as well as new camps set up for the purpose. OfERR is a non-profit making, non-political, service oriented organization. The Committee of Management of the OfERR consists of Indian and Ceylonese professionals, educationists and social workers.

The Organization was duly registered on 21.05.1984 under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act No.27 of 1975. The registration number is 113 of 1984. The Organization has been afforded charitable status under Sec. 12(A) of the Income Tax Act. OfERR is also registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to receive foreign contributions under 6(1)(a) of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 1976. The organization has been permitted to clear donations received in kind for distribution among the refugees from abroad free of customs duty. Relief articles thus received and distributed to refugees by the OfERR are handed over to refugees in the presence of a representative of the District Collector who issues a certificate confirming the distribution.

On going Interventions:
To advocate for the continued favourable political and social climate in India for Ceylon Tamil Refugees.

1. Advocacy for protection and care of refugees, for an early resolution of the ethnic conflict and to facilitate meaningful return.
2. Activities, efforts on conflict resolution.
3. Facilitating refugees to take informed decision on return.
4. Update and improve the existing database on refugees

To build awareness, motivate refugees and prepare them for return

1. Awareness building, organizing refugees in preparation for return
2. Community Organizing, Self Help Groups and Saving  Groups formation   
3. Women's empowerment
4. Counseling activity

To supplement government assistance of providing basic facilities to the refugees in the camps and improve their quality of life

1. Supplementing Government assistance and improving the basic facilities in the camps
2. Improving the quality of life of refugees in the camps

To prevent diseases and improve the health status of Ceylon Tamil refugees in India.

1. Sustaining and improving physical health of the   refugees- Medical programme.
2. Health Worker Programme.
3. Assistance to hospitalized patients

Improve the nutritional status of refugees living in 102 refugee camps.

1. Providing supplementary nutrition food and vitamins for pregnant women, lactating mothers, children from four months to 18 years old and sick and invalids
2. Promoting home gardening and poultry rearing
3. Providing nutrition education

To provide education, skills training and to facilitate income generation activities among   refugees.

1. Education Programme                                                                       
2. Skills Training to refugees.
3. Income Generation Programmme.

To create awareness among the Tamil refugees in the camps on Landmines and Unexploded ordinances  and to empower them to assist in the clearance when they return to Ceylon

1. Preparation of resource material in Tamil for Trainers to build awareness among the refugees

To provide the refugees with knowledge of the current situation in Ceylon and peace education to facilitate peaceful co-existence with all sections of the people in the Island when they ultimately return.

1. Facilitating 'know more about your homeland' get together in camps
2. Peace education for the refugees in the camps in Tamil Nadu

To provide skills to refugees taking into account the needs and opportunities in the Island

1. Providing training for 30 refugees in "Spirulina" cultivation/ production
2. Training in poultry rearing
3. Training in Home Gardening skills
4. Training in use of renewable energy and protection of environment
5. Training in traditional medicine skills

To enhance the capacity of OfERR volunteers and refugee leaders to be able to work under a different environment when they return.

1. Training OfERR volunteers and refugee leaders in Human Rights, Democracy, Gender and Community Organizing.
2. Counseling Training
3. Communication and Leadership training
4. Health workers training
5. Computer skills for social workers and graduates
6. Training Nursery Teachers

The Committee of Management of the OfERR meets once a month. At the monthly meeting, the working of the Organisation during the month is reviewed, policy decisions are taken and guide-lines are given for the formulation and implementation of programmes and for the handling of problems faced by refugees. Minutes of the meetings are duly recorded and approved by the Committee.

The OfERR receives financial assistance from Non Governmental Organisations, other Charitable Institutions, and Expatriate Eelam Tamils. OfERR also received assistance from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Refugees Fund. All such contributions are duly receipted and deposited in State Banks. Foreign funds are received and deposited to an account maintained exclusively for this purpose.

Accounting records of the society are maintained on a daily basis and the accounts are subject to annual audit by a Chartered Accountant. The financial year of the Society is from 1st April to 31st March. All accounts of the Society have been audited up to the end of the financial year 2005/2006.

The accounts and other records of the OfERR are also subject to inspection by representatives of the Registrar of Societies, Tamil Nadu and the Union Home Ministry. At the last inspection the Registrar reported that the functioning of the Society was satisfactory.

The Organisation makes representations to the State and Central Governments on various matters concerning the refugees. Many of the suggestions made by OfERR on refugee related issues to the State and Central Governments have been accepted during the past years and duly acted upon.