CHAPTER V

PROFILE OF STUDY AREA:

TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT
 CHAPTER V

PROFILE OF STUDY AREA: TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT

The usefulness of any research study can be fiiUy appreciated only when the

results are studied with the geographical, demographical, social, and economical

factors and the like. Hence, the present Chapter is designed to present a brief profile

of the study area - Tirunelveli District in the state of Tamil Nadu - with its salient

features to serve as background material for the present study.

Tamil Nadu is situated at the south-eastern part of the Indian sub-continent

and lies between 8° 5' and 13° 35' of Northern Latitude and 76° 15' and 80° 20'

Eastern Longitude. It is bounded in the East and South by the long sea coast of Bay

of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, in the West by the States of Kerala and Kamataka

and in the North by the States of Kamataka and Andhra Pradesh. The total area of

Tamil Nadu is 1, 30,058sqkms forming 4.08% of India's total geographical area. The

State is best divided into 30 districts and Tirunelveli District is situated at the southern

part of the State.

Tirunelveli district is often known as the pride of the Tamils, has five distinct

geographical regions - viz., mountainous region (Western Ghats), forests (Kalakkadu-

Mundanthurai), paddy fields watered by the Tamirabarani River, sea-coasts, and their

lands (desert). Because of its climate, physiography and culture, the district is almost

similar to those of Tamil Nadu State, and as a whole it described as the microcosm of

the State.

The district which is ancient in history and culture, was divided in to two

districts, namely Tirunelveli - the western half of the former district, and Thoothukudi
 92

district - the eastern half of the former district - through the State Government's

Notification G.O.Ms.No.l314, dt.27.09.1986. The erstwhile district, which covered

an area of 1 l,433sqkms, has been limited to 6,283sqkms, after bifiircation.

Tirunelveli is derived from three Tamil words tiru (holy), nel (paddy), and veil

(fence), which meant for Sacred Paddy Hedge referring to a legend that the God

Shiva protected a devotee's rice crop there. Later the city was one amongst the

commercial centre under the Pandya Dynasty who ruled Tamil Nadu during medieval

period.

The present Tirunelveli District consists of 1 Municipal Corporation

(Tirunelveli), 6 Municipalities (Tenkasi, Sankarankoil, Shenkottai, Kadayanallur,

Puliyankudi, and Courtrallam), 3 revenue districts (Tirunelveli, Cheranmahadevi, and

Tenkasi), 11 taluks (Sivagiri, Sankarankoil, Shenkottai, Ambasamudram,

Palayamkottai, Radhapuram, Tenkasi, Veerakeralamputhur, Alangulam, Tirunelveli,

and Nanguneri), 19 blocks (Alankulam, Ambasamudram, Cherannahadevi, Kadayam,

Kadayanallur, Kalakkadu, Keelapavoor, Kuruvikulam, Manur, Melaneelithanallur,

Nanguneri, Palayamkottai, Pappakudi, Radhapuram, Sankarankoil, Shenkottai,

Tenkasi, Vallioor, and Vasudevanallur), and 678 revenue villages. For an easy

understanding it is presented in the Table No.5.1.

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TABLE 5.1

Revenue Divisions in Tirunelveli District

Name of Revenue No. of Revenue

Division Divisions
Municipal Corporation 1

Municipality 6

Revenue District 3

Block 19

Town Panchayat 38

Revenue Village 628

Source: District Statistical Office, Tirunelveli, 2005-06 (Unpublished Records).

Location

The District covers an area of 6,823sqkms and located in the south eastern part

of Tamil Nadu. It lies between 08° 08' and 09° 23' of northern latitudes and 77° 09'

and 77° 54' of eastern longitudes. It is surrounded by the Virudhunagar District in the

north, Kerala State in the west, Kanyakumari District and Gulf of Mannar in the south

and Thoothukudi District in the east.

Climate

The district, in general experiences tropical climate with minor changes. The

normal temperature varies between 24.4°C and 27.1°C at mean minimum, whereas

the hottest climate experiences from March to May with mercury reaching 38.5°C at

the highest. The climate is comparatively cool during the months from November to

February. The average rainfall during 2005-06 is 917.86mm and the number of rainy

days varies from 98 to 110.

 94

MAP 5.1

TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT

144

fasudevanall

Kuruknkulam
Sank^rankovil

aneelithanallur

nkottal
 95

Humidity

The relative humidity, in general around the year is between 55 and 65% in

most parts of the district, except during the north-east monsoon season when it is over

65%. However, the coastal areas will be comparatively more humid.

Soil Type

TABLE 5.2

Soil Types found in Tirunelveii District

Places in
Soil Type
Tirunelveii District
Red Loam Alangulam, Tenkasi, Shenkottai, Sivagiri,
Veerakeralam Puthur, and Radhapuram
Taluks
Lateritic Nil.

Black Soil Sankarankoil, Mela Neelithanallur,

Kuruvikulam, Palayamkottai, Manur, and
Tirunelveii.
Sandy Coastal Alluvium and In coastal areas of Tirunelveii district.
Red Sandy Soil

Source: District Statistical Office, Tirunelveii, 2005-06 (Unpublished Records).

The soil condition of the district may be grouped into two main varieties

namely red loam soil and black soil. The black soil is of a higher value compared to

the red loam soil and the black soil of the Tamirabarani River Valley overlies a stiff

yellow colour. The red loam found in Tenkasi, Shenkottai, Sivagiri, and Radhapuram

Taluks. The black soil is found in Sankarankoil, Palayamkottai, and Tirunelveii

Taluks. The other soils like lateritic, sandy coastal alluvial soil and red-sand soil are

not found much in the district. It is showed in Table No.5.2. In the south-east coast.
 96

the soil is deep, loose and red loam surfaced by sand with its depth varying from a

few inches to 20 feet.

Rivers

The district having been fertiled and flourished by number of rivers. Among

them Tamirabarani, Pachaiyaru, Koraiyaru, and Chittaru are too important. Besides

these rivers the important other small rivers in the distrct are Aluthakanniyaru,

Jambunathi, Ramanathi, Gadananathi, Hanuman Nathi, Karuppanathi, Gundaru,

Mottaiyaru, Manimutharu, Nambiyaru, Karunaiyaru, Vadamalaiyaru, Kottamalaiyaru,

Kothaiyaru, Rajasinghiyaru, Mundhal Odai.

Rainfall

TABLE 5.3

Season-wise Rainfall in Tirunelveli District in 2005-2006

Normal Actual
Season
(in mm.) (in mm.)
South-west Monsoon
196.29 153.46
(June - September)
North-east Monsoon
513.01 511.49
(October - December)
Winter Season (January - February) 80.4 56.29

Summer Season (March - May) 139.1 185.69

Total 928.80 906.93

Source: District Statistical Office, Tirunelveli, 2005-06 (Unpublished Records).

The rainfall determines the growth of an agricultural country. If there is good

rainfall, there will be a prosperous situation for the country and vice versa. Though

Tirunelveli district has many rivers and reservoirs, canals, tanks, and wells, they are
 97

all rain-fed. When there is no proper rainfall during respective seasons, these

reservoirs, rivers and so on will become dry. Therefore, rainfall brings a good fortune

to the Tirunelveli district. Even the district receives rainfall during all seasons of the

year, the two different monsoons namely South-West and North-East Monsoons

through which the district obtain more are too important. The recorded rainfall in

2005-06 during various seasons are fiimished in Table No.5.3.

Mineral Resources

Limestone is available at several places in the district. The major part comes

from the limestone deposit occurring near Ramayanpatti, Thalaiyuthu, and Padmaneri.

A total of 4.06 million tones of limestone up to a depth of 15.2 meters in

Ramayanpatti band, and 5.08 tones up to a depth of 15.25 meters in Thalaiyuthu band,

have been estimated. The Padmaneri band consists of six limestone lenses with an

aggregate strike length of 800 meters, with an additional 0.199 million tones of

cement grade lime estimated from this band. Six bands of good quality limestone

occur Pandapuli and 4, 34,000 tones suitable for the manufacture of cement and

chemical industries have been estimated.

Light traces of Sulphides occur in and around of Pattankadu and

Muntradaippu. This mineral is of economic importance.

Occurrence of Ilmenite - red garnet sand, in the beds of the river Nambiyaru

and Uvari have been found. The proportion of garnet is 75% in the rich deposits and

45% in the surface. Local concentration of limestone sands are also noticed near

Vijayapathi and Kuttankuli.

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Forest

The total area of the forest in the district is 1, 22,055 hectares, of which 81,700

hectares are set apart as reserve of Kalakkadu-Mundanthurai. The entire forest of the

district stretches in the Western Ghats.

As far as forest resources are concerned, about 600 species of timber trees are

grown in this district. The important of them are teak wood, rose wood, wild jack,

manjakadamba, ven teak, vengai, pillai maruthu, and karumaruthu. Cane and

bamboo are also grown in plenty. A number of industries utilising the above said

woods have developed in and around of Shenkottai and Tenkasi Taluks.

The district has many lofty mountains, low plains, rivers and sea-coasts which

together provide an unique geographical and physical conditions suitable for the

growth of tropical evergreen forests to thorny shrubs. The forests in the district are

technically classified as southern hill top, tropical evergreen forests, west coast

evergreen forests, southern moist mixed deciduous forests, ochlandra reed forests,

umbrella thorn forests, southern euphoria scurbs and southern thorn scurbs.

Agriculture

Factors like soil nature, climatic conditions, and irrigation facilities availed,

and the like determines the cropping pattern in the district. Tirunelveli district is

predominantly an agricultural district. The district has mainly two seasons namely

Kar (the first crop season - from June to September during south-west monsoon), and

Pishanam (the second crop - from November to February during north-east

monsoon). However, most of the rain-fed areas in the district are cultivated in both

the seasons.
 99

The district has fertile soils in scattered regions. Less fertile red loam soil is

distributed over most of the region. The network of the irrigation system makes full

use of the water resources. In the district there are number of crops having been

cultivated. However, cropping pattern of the district varies from Taluk to Taluk. Wet

cultivation is, essentially paddy cultivation obtains a major share of the gross cropped

area. Under dry regions, diversified crop patterns exist and no single crop claims a

large share of the gross cropped area. Cultivation which characterises these regions is

also basically milled and cash crop cultivations. Even in dry regions, wherever water

is available, it is the paddy crop that sown by the farmers. Paddy occupies however,

the largest area of cultivation, followed by cotton. Paddy is cultivated mainly in

Tirunelveli, Palayamkottai, Tenkasi, Shenkottai, Ambasamudram, and Nanguneri

Taluks, through which the perennial river Tamirabarani flows.

Other crops grown in the district are Cumbu, Ragi, Pulses, Groundnut,

Gingelly, Banana, Chilli, Sugarcane, and Indigo. Most of the crops are on the ground

for three or four months, except chilli and cotton which take more than 5 months.

Portions of Sankaran Kovil Taluk have the rich, fertile black soil which is highly

suitable for cotton cultivation.

Irrigation

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to soil for the purpose of crop

cultivation. As the timing and amount of rainfall are not adequate to meet the

moisture requirement of cultivation, irrigation is essential to raise crops and meet the

need for food and fiber. In areas where the rainfall is plentiful and well distributed

over the year there will be year round production. Indeed, rainfall in certain areas will

be very scanty as well as uncertain. This is so in Tirunelveli district.

 100

The irrigation system in Tirunelveli district consists of rivers like

Tamirabarani, Manimuttaru, Pachaiyaru, Nambiyaru, and Chittaru which originating

from Western Ghats and running across the gentle slopes of the mid lands and

confluence in Bay of Bengal. The River Tamirabarani is the main source of irrigation

which also provides drinking water facilities to a number of places in the district, as

well. Pabanasam, Manimuttar and Chervalar are the major reservoirs in the district.

Gadana Nathi, Ramanathi, Karuppanathi, Gundaru, Adavi Nainar Koil, Vadakku

Pachaiyaru, Kodumudiyaru, and Nambiyaru are the minor reservoirs in the district.

Besides these rivers and reservoirs the other different sources of irrigation

prevailing in the district are canal, tank and well.

Of the total cropped 1, 61,976 hectares 38,080 hectares (23.5%) utilises such

types of sources. The source-wise irrigation distribution in Tirunelveli district during

2005-2006 is given in the Table No.5.4.

TABLE 5.4
Distribution by Source-wise Irrigation during 2005-2006
Area % to Total
Source
(in Hectares) Area Irrigated
Total Cropped Area 1,61,976 ~

Net Area Irrigated 38,080 23.50

Irrigation By

a) Canal 18,720 49.16

b) Tank 16,648 43.72

c) Well 2,712 7.12

Total 38,080 100

Source: District Statistical Office, Tirunelveli, 2005-06 (Unpublished Records).

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Land Use Pattern

Of the total of 6, 82,300 hectares area in Tirunelveli district, about 79,668

(11.7%) hectares are wet lands well suited for the cultivation of paddy and other crops

which need adequate water supply, while others are not useful for agricultural

purposes. Nearly 3,58,151 (52.5%) hectares is dry land with no irrigation facilities

for agriculture, although soil condition is moderate for growing crops, so that it mat

be used to grow drought resistant plants which offer firewood. A block of waste lands

which about 39,274 (5.7%) hectares is proclaimed to be not useful for growing crops,

because of lack of enough water, poor soil, and undesired topographic conditions.

Approximately 57,676 (8.5%) hectares is unassessed wasteland where soil condition

is fair while water supply scarcity prevails for several months, so that it is used for

agriculture only when rainfall is high. Yet, another 1, 22,055 (17.8%) hectares is

occupied by forests which are declared to be reserves as forest resources for lion-

tailed monkeys, rich in deciduous and evergreen plants. Poromboke - common lands,

covers about 25,456 (3.8%) hectares, which may be used to create social forests

although water is scarce.

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TABLE 5.5

Land Use Pattern in TirunelveU District: 2005-2006

Area
Land Category Percentage
(in Hectares)
Wet Land 79,668 11.7

Dry Land 3,58.151 52.5

Assessed Waste Land 39,274 5.7

Unassessed Dry Waste Land 57,696 8.5

Forest Land 1,22,055 17.8

Poramboke (Common Land) 25,456 3.8

Total geographical area 6,82,300 100

Area sown more than once 30,163 1.50

Total area cultivated 1,61,976 23.74

Source: District Statistical Office, Tirunelveli, 2005-06 (Unpublished Records).

There are 6 urban areas, and 463 rural areas including 425 village panchayats

and 38 town panchayats in the district. An unpublished official report from the Office

of the District Collectorate, Tirunelveli, in 2002 shows that 29% of the total area of

urban centers used for residential purposes while in rural centers only 14% of areas

used for this purposes. The area of agricultural lands and open spaces gets reduced

every year in the district owing to the rapid conversion in these areas for residential

purposes. The land use pattern in the district is shown in the Table No.5.5.
 103

Demographic Features

The Tirunelveli district enjoys a mixed blend of several leading religions,

castes, and communities. Hinduism is the religion of the majority population of the

district.

According to 2001 Census, the total population of the district is 28, 01,194

persons of which 13, 72,082 (48.9%) are males and 14, 29,112 (51.1%) are females

which shares 4.5% of the total population of Tamil Nadu State. The sex ratio was

1,021 females for every 1000 males as against the State's average of 974 females for

1000 males. The density of population per square km was 411 as against 428 for the

entire State.

The district has got a Scheduled Caste population of 17.90 per cent in total.

Paliyans and Kanis are the tribal people who inhabits in the Western Ghats. The total

number of Scheduled Tribes is 8,975, which worked out 0.36 per cent of total

population of the district. Of the total working population 21.28 per cent were

cultivators while another 29.57 and 6.29 per cent belonged to agricultural and

marginal labourers, respectively.

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TABLE 5.6

Demographic Features of Tirunelveli District

Particulars Size

Total Geographical Area (in sqkms) 61,823

Population (2001 Census) 28,01,194

a) Male 13,72,082(48.9)
b) Female 14,29,112(51.1)
c) Sex ratio (females for 1000 males) 1,021
Total Workers 11,80,369
a) Cultivators 2,51,257(21.28)
b) Agricultural Labourers 3,49,069 (29.57)
c) Marginal Labourers 74,326 (6.29)
Number of Households 6,88,253

Average Size of Family 4

Population Density (per sqkm) 411

Literacy Rate (in %) 68.44

Living Pattern
a) Urban Population 9,67,533 (34.54)
b) Rural Population 18,33,661 (65.46)
Scheduled Caste Population 5,01,414(17.90)
Scheduled Tribes Population 8,975 (0.36)

Source: Census - 2001, District Statistical Office, Tirunelveli,

(Unpublished Records). (Figures in parentheses indicates percentage)

Literacy rate is quite high at 72.16 per cent as compared to the national as well

as the State's averages. As far as the living pattern is concerned, about 34.54% of the

total population exists in urban areas where the population seems to be denser than

that in rural areas, and 65.46% of population lives in rural areas where population
 105

density is very low. The total number of households in the district is 6, 88,253 and

the average size of a household is four (4). The demographic characteristics of

Tirunelveli district is given in Table No.5.6.

Infrastructure in the District

The Tirunelveli district has sound infrastructural facilities like transport,

financial institutions, marketing, industries, education, and health services.

Transportation:

The district has a well-built transportation network. There are surfaced roads

covering 4, 55,115kms and unsurfaced roads 86,116kms. Besides, 247kms covered

by railways. The length of road per lOOOsqkm area is 782.55kms and the length of

the surfaced road per lOOOsqkm area is 63.23kms.

Financial Institutions:

The district has a well-built banking structure catering to the needs of the

population, hi the district, it is well served by 86 branches of nationalised banks, 47

branches of Pandiyan Grama Bank, 76 private bankers, and more than 500 chit

companies.

Marketing:

Sankarankoil, Shenkottai, Tenkasi, and Ambasamudram are the major

marketing centers in the Tirunelveli district. Paddy, cumbu, cholam, ragi, blackgram,

greengram, bengalgram, coconut oil, gingelly oil, groundnut oil, and chilli are

marketed through daily shanties located in these marketing centers.

Besides, the district is well-served by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and

there are 4 Regulated Markets in total to protect the farmers from the possible

malpractices in trading. They are diffused in all the three revenue districts of
 106

Tirunelveli district. Of them two are at Tenkasi and Kadayanallur of Tenkasi Revenue

District, one is at Tirunelveli of Tirunelveli Revenue District, and the last one is at

Vallioor of Cheranmahadevi Revenue District.

Industries:

After bifiarcation of Thoothukudi District from Tirunelveli, the district has lost

its prominence as an industrial centre. The industrial hubbub has gone to

Thoothukudi district. However, among the industries in the district, paper, tea, textile

and cement industries need mention. The India Cement Limited at Thalaiyuthu, the

Sun Paper Mills Limited at Cheranmahadevi, Madura Coats Limited at

Ambasamudram, BBTC Ltd., (cultivating and processing of tea) at Manjolai, Dharani

Sugar Mills at Sivagiri, T.V.S. Spinning Mills at Nanguneri, Gomathi Spinning Mill

at Veeravanallur and Sankar Nagar, Co-operative Mills at Pettai, N.T.C. at

Shenkottai, Grinnage at Kudiyiruppu near to Tenkasi, and Silk Realming Unit at

Tenkasi are the important landmarks in the industrial map of the Tirunelveli district.
 107

TABLE 5.7

Small-scale Industrial Units in Tirunelveli District

Industry No. of Registered Units Percentage

Agro-Based Industries 926 10.56

Forest-Based Industries 431 4.91

Textile-Based Industries 803 9.16

Animal-husbandry-Based 155 1.76

Industries
Mineral- Based Industries 357 4.07

Chemical- Based Industries 805 9.18

Engineering- Based Industries 1250 14.26

Electrical Industries 788 8.99

Miscellaneous 3,270 37.31

Total 8,763 100

Source: Action Plan Report (1997 - 2001), District Industries Center (DIC),
Tirunelveli (Unpublished Records).

In 1978, the District Industries Center was started and functioning to gear up

industrialisation and rendering all the assistance that are required for the promotion of

industrial units under one roof in the district. There are a total of 406 registered

factories and 8,763 small-scale industrial units in the district. The category-wise

distribution of small-scale industrial units in the district is presented in the Table

No.5.7.

In the district electricity is generated through Hydel power station of

Pabanasam with an installed capacity of 20MW, and through number of wind mills.
 108

The significant village industries of the district include handloom weaving of

textiles, safety match making, poultry, farming, bricklin, jaggery production, mat

weaving and processing, manufacture of palm fiber and articles fi-om palm trees, and

beedi making. Among the handicrafts, the district is famous for the production of

handloom cloth (Ambasamudram); the silky mats which have a fine world market

produced at Pattamadai of Cheranmahadevi revenue district; and terracotta figurines

of Karukurichi.

Education

TABLE 5.8

Literates in Tirunelveli District - 2001

Sex Population Literacy Rate

(in %)
Male 10,41,964 75.94

Female 8,75,274 61.12

Total 19,17,238 68.44

^owrce.Census - 2001, District Statistical Office, Tirunelveli, (Unpublished Records).

Education is an instrument to make the society more responsive and adaptive

to the goals of development. It viewed as an instrument in human capital and a

detriment of economic growth. It is also one of the most important services in any

country. Literacy, generally understood to be the ability to read and write, is

considered one of the most important indicators of the social development of a

society. Though the Government has made efforts to literate the masses, illiteracy

continues to persist in Tirunelveli district. It is shown in the Table No.5.8.

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However, the Tirunelveli district enjoys the benefit of almost all kinds of

educational institutions in Tamil Nadu State. The district has 201 recognised pre-

primary schools, 1653 primary schools, 404 middle schools, 170 high schools and 63

matriculation high schools, 152 higher secondary schools and 37 matriculation higher

secondary schools.

For higher education there are 21 arts and science colleges, 12 educational

colleges, 12 engineering colleges, 1 medical college and 1 Siddha Medical College,

10 teacher training institutes, 9 polytechnics, 42 industrial training institutes (ITI),

12 community colleges, 1 law college, and an University, as shown in the Table

No.5.9.

Besides, there are number of paramedical institutions, computer training

institutes which offer certificate and diploma level programmes, typewriting, and

tailoring institutes which excluded in the table (5.9) due to lack of official

information.
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TABLE 5.9

Educational institutions in TirunelveU District: 2005-2006

Type of the Institution No. of Institutions

Institxitions for Higher Education

a) University 1
b) Medical College 2
c) Engineering College 12
d) Law College 1
e) Arts and Science College 21
f) Educational College 12
g) Teacher Training Institute 10
h) Community College 12
i) Nursing College 1
Technical Educational Institutions
a) Polytechnic 9
b) Industrial Training Institute (ITI) 42
Higher Secondary Education
a) Matriculation Higher Secondary Schools (CB)* 37
b) Higher Secondary Schools (SB)** 152
High School Education
a) Matriculation High Schools (CB) 63
b) High Schools (SB) 170
Middle Schools 404
Primary Schools 1653
Pre-primary Schools 201

Source: Chief Educational Office, Regional Office of Collegiate Education, Office

of Regional Inspector for Matriculation Schools, and College Development Office of
M.S. University, Tirunelveli, (Unpublished Records).
(*CB - Central Board; **SB - State Board)