CHAPTER - IV PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA Origin and History of Kanyakumari District Kanyakumari district has its ancient history dating back to the Sangam Age a Cradle of Civilization in this part of India. The district has a large number of historic monuments and temples. A series of Kingdoms are known to have ruled Kanyakumri, most important being the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas. Up to early 50 s of the 20 th Century, this region was part of Travancore Samasthan, present day Kerala State, where the Tamil speaking majority population struggled much to merge with Tamil Nadu state and as such Kanyakumari district became part of Tamil Nadu, after the constitution of the state Re-organising Commission of 1956. On the recommendations of the Commission, it was rearranged that Agasteeswaram, Thovalai, Kalkulam, Vilacancode and Senkottai taluks were given to Tamil Nadu state among which the first four taluks were grouped to form a new Kanyakumari district. On I st November 1956, the present Kanyakumari district came into existence with its headquarters at Nagercoil. 1
Kanyakumari district lies at the southern most tip of peninsular India, where the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal embrace one another. By its very location, this district occupies a unique place among the districts of Tamil Nadu. One of the most important pilgrim centres of India, Kanyakumari (Cape Comerin) is very famous for its tourist attractions. Besides, enjoying with comparatively high rates of rainfall and fertile soils, the district is also called Nanjil Nadu, legendary for agricultural productivity. Moreover, one could witness to rare scene of the setting of the sun and the rising of the moon simultaneously on a full moon day at Cape Commerin in Kanyakumari. 2 Location Kanyakumari district is situated in the southern tip of the Indian sub-continent lying between 77 0-05 and 77 0-36 of the eastern longitude and 8 o -03 and 8 o -35 of the northern latitude. Kanyakumari district has an area of 1672 sq.km. It is bounded by Tirunelveli district in the north and north east, Kerala State in the north west and sea in the west and south. On the basis of physiography, the district can be divided into three natural divisions. North-eastern portion of the district
comprises of the eastern portion of the Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. The north-eastern portion of the Thovalai taluk constitutes a mountainous division with spurs from Western Ghats running into it. In the extreme west and south west of the district is the sea coast which is flat and fairly fertile. The land along the sea coast is called the low lands. In between the mountainous region (high land) and the sea coast (low land), there exists a strip of undulating valley (midlands) with a few streams available for cultivation. 3 A geographical map is also depicted in this chapter to correctly locate the study area. Population in Kanyakumari District The total area of Kanyakumari district is 1672 sp.km. Its population is 1676034, and of this 832269 are males and 843765 are females. The total rural population is 582761 and the urban 1087002. According to 2001 census, the density of population in Kanyakumari district is 999 per sq.km and total literates are 1308322.
Table 4.1 Area, population literates, SC, ST sex-wise by blocks and municipalities Name of the Blocks /Municipalities Area (sq.km) Population Persons Male Female Literate Persons Male Female (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) Agastheswaram 133.12 148419 73260 75159 118778 60120 58658 Rajakkamangalam 120.16 137254 68119 69135 108539 55337 53202 Thovalai 369.07 110719 55057 55662 85132 44101 41031 Kurunthancode 106.85 165070 81823 83247 126882 64369 62513 Thuckalay 130.33 167262 82488 84774 131428 66461 64967 Thiruvattar 344.80 161619 80220 81399 122710 62524 60186 Killiyoor 82.70 156387 78663 77724 119931 62173 57758 Munchiri 72.01 177225 89122 88103 131461 68366 63095 Melpuram 271.89 179535 88578 90957 137211 70560 66651 Nagercoil Municipality 24.27 208179 102907 105272 175248 88590 86658 Padmanabapuram 6.47 20075 9967 10108 16282 8372 7910 Colachel 5.18 23787 11996 11791 18008 9275 8733 Kuzhithurai 5.15 20503 10069 10434 16712 8419 8293 TOTAL 1672.00 1676034 832269 843765 1308322 668667 639655 Source: Census of India,2001 One important feature of the population of Kanyakumari district is that the total of females out numbers males. The ratio between the males and the females is 1000:1012. Of the 13 blocks
and municipalities, Agasteeswaram block, Melpuram block, Nagercoil Municipality and Kuzhithurai block, we can find that females out number males and in all other blocks females are less. Caste Conditions The following table, number 4.2 gives a detailed condition of scheduled caste and tribes in Kanyakumari district. Table 4.2 Schedule caste and tribes in Kanyakumari district Blocks / Municipalities Persons Scheduled Caste Male Female Persons Schedule Tribes Male Female Agastheswaram 13397 6577 6820 513 251 262 Rajakkamangalam 7348 3677 3671 55 29 26 Thovalai 11344 5657 5687 487 271 261 Kurunthancode 7866 4029 3837 35 18 17 Thuckalay 5386 2722 2664 19 5 14 Thiruvattar 4510 2247 1384 2237 1121 1116 Killiyoor 2777 1393 3177 61 32 29 Munchiri 6257 3080 3686 143 65 78 Melpuram 7310 3624 3764 1275 630 645 Nagercoil Municipality 7483 3719 1073 342 170 172 Padmanabapuram 2225 1152 308 10 5 5 Colachel 580 272 189 4 2 2 Kuzhithurai 379 190 42 23 19 TOTAL 76863 4.60% Source : Census of India, 2001. 5223 0.31%
Out of the total population of Kanyakumari district 4.60 percent are scheduled castes and 0.31 percent are scheduled tribes. Education Kanyakumari District is one of the 100 percent literate districts of India. It is declared as 100 percent literate district in the beginning of 1990 s. 4 The total Number of educational institutions are 981. The classification is listed in Table, 4.3. Table 4.3 Educational Institutions of Kanyakumari district Schools and Colleges Number of Institutions Arts & Science Colleges 16 B.Ed. Colleges 16 Medicine Allopthy Indian Medicine Homeopathy 2 2 2 Engineering 19 College for Special Education 8 Pre-Primary Schools 83 Primary Schools 413 Middle Schools 147 High Schools 120 Higher Secondary 122 Teachers Training Institutes 8 Industrial training institutes 23 Source : District statistical Hand book
Financial Resources In terms of banking coverage, Kanyakumari district could be considered as one of the well-banked districts of Tamil Nadu. There are 114 branches of different commercial banks, spread over 103 centres of the district. Indian Overseas Bank has been considered to be the lead bank of the district for distributing the necessary loans and advances to farmers, industrial workers and other industrial organizations of the district. 5 Soil Condition Soil in the district is mostly of red loam variety. In the sea coasts, the sandy type of soil prevails and near the mountain regions gravelly soil is generally seen. In the lowlands there is neither white sand nor sandy loam. The mid lands and high lands contain fairly fertile soil. The valleys in the mid land have loamy clay soil with high sand content. Generally, in the mid lands the soil is clay loam of laterite origin with an admixture of gravel sand. 6 Different categories of soil and the suitability of crops is shown in the Table 4.4.
Table 4.4 Types of soil and suitability of crops in Kanyakumari district Crops Grown Soil Type Irrigated Rainfed Type Tropopsamments - Coconut Lithic Ustrothents - Orchard Crops Lithic Troporthents Banana Rubber Paralithic Troporthents Banana Rubber Typic Troporthents Colecrops Orchard crops Typic Ustropepts Flower and Tapioca Colecrops Typic Eutropepts Colecrops Rubber Typic Dystropepts Paddy Tapioca Fluventic Dystropepts - Coconut Udic Haplustalfs Paddy Pulses Udic Rhodustalfs Colecrops Cashew Udic Hapludalfs Paddy Pulses Typic Tropudalfs Paddy Pulses Aqure Tropudalfs Paddy - Aquic Halpudalfs Paddy - Typic Udipsamments - Coconut Source: Soil Atlas of Kanyakumari District, Soil Testing Laboratory, Nagercoil, 2004.
The soil fertility is given in terms of the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. The soil in most of the blocks have low contents of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash while the soil in the Killiyoor and Agasteeswaram blocks have medium content of potash. Diverse soils promote cultivation of diverse crops over the different parts of the district. Climate The District has a favourable agro-climatic condition which is suitable for growing a number of crops. The proximity of the equator, its topography and other climate factors favour the growth of various crops. The paddy varieties grown in the second crop season in Thovalai and Agasteeswaram taluks are grown during the first crop season in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. This shows that there is distinct variation in the climate conditions prevailing within the district. Unlike other districts in Tamil Nadu, it has a rainfall both during the South West and the North East monsoons. The South West monsoon period starts from the month of June and ends in September, while the North East monsoon period starts from October and ends in the middle of December. The average rainfall is shown in Table 4.5.
Year Table 4.5 Time series data of rainfall by seasons (last 16 years) South West Monsoon Normal Actual North East Monsoon Normal Actual Winter Season Normal Actual Hot Weather Season Normal Actual Normal Total Actual % Deviation (+or-or =)from Normal 1993 559.1 5935.0 526.0 927.8 50.2 17.0 321.5 205.5 1456.8 1743.5 +19.68 1994 559.1 492.8 526.0 1039.9 50.2 77.1 321.5 276.7 1456.8 1886.4 +29.49 1995 559.1 595.7 526.0 630.3 50.2 41.2 321.5 509.6 1456.8 1776.8 +21.97 1996 559.1 592.8 526.0 608.0 50.2 19.5 321.5 213.5 1456.8 1343.8-7.76 1997 559.1 593.0 526.0 646.5 50.2 10.6 321.5 269.2 1456.8 1519.3 +4.29 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 559.1 760.0 526.0 653.4 50.2 2.8 321.5 240.4 1456.8 1656.9 13.74 559.1 667.8 526.0 1069.3 50.2 52.7 321.5 458.6 1456.8 2248.4 +54.34 559.1 590.4 526.0 602.0 50.2 204.1 321.5 138.8 1456.8 1535.3 +5.39 559.1 894.6 526.0 360.3 50.2 73.9 321.5 419.2 1456.8 1748.5 +20.02 559.1 650.9 526.0 484.8 50.2 28.2 321.5 341.6 1456.8 1505.5 +3.34 559.1 239.8 526.0 769.1 50.2 9.5 321.5 188.6 1456.8 1207.0-17.15 559.1 230.9 526.0 486.2 50.2 10.5 321.5 380.6 1456.8 1108.2-23.92 559.1 603.4 526.0 337.4 50.2 32.8 321.5 461.9 1456.8 1435.5-1.46 327.8 389.3 427.4 549.9 33.4 38.6 217.4 272.1 1006.0 1249.9 +24.2 327.8 644.4 427.4 611.5 33.4 7.38 217.4 290.2 1006.0 1553.9 +54.42 327.8 803.9 427.4 506.6 33.4 71.7 217.4 413.1 1006.0 1795.3 +78.46 Source: Assistant Director of Statistics, Nagercoil.
The content of the above table shows that the quantum of rainfall is subjected to severe fluctuations. The deviations from the normal ranges from 478.40 % to 23.92%. In Kanyakumari district, rainfall is distributed over four seasons. They are south-west and north-east monsoons, winter and hot weather season. The south-west monsoon and north-east monsoon are more effective in the district, contributing to an average of 1369.9 MM as annual rainfall. The season-wise distribution of rainfall in Kanyakumari district shows the availability and flourishment of different crops. The south-west monsoon extends up to the month of September from June and the north-east starts in October and ends in December. Greater concentration of rainfall exists during these two monsoon seasons. The winter season is in the month of January and February. In this season, the rainfall is extremely low. The summer season begins in the month of March and ends in May. The summer seasons enjoy a higher average rainfall than the winter but less than in the monsoon seasons. Season-wise distribution of normal rainfall is given in Table 4.6.
Table 4.6 Season- wise distribution of rainfall Season South west monsoon (June-Sept) North east monsoon (October-December) Winter season (January-February) Summer Season (March May) Rainfall in MM 332.5 486.18 0.5 188.6 Source: Live Register, Asst. Director of Statistics, District Statistical Office, 2004. River Basin Kanyakumari district is drained into five river basins Viz., Tambaraparani river basin in the west, Pazhayar river basin in the east, Valliyar river basin, the Bamfurivaikkal and Ponnivaikkal river basins in the middle portion of the district. The Paraliyar, Kodayar and the Chittar I and II form the Tambaraparani river basins. It originates from the mountains north of Mahendragiri hills in Thovalai Taluk. The river Kadar has its source at the southern extremity of Muthukuzhivayal plateau in Kalkulam Taluk and proceeding towards south, the river drops 50 feet down forming the Thirpparappu river falls, further the river joins with Paraliyar at Thiruvattar. The river Chittar I & II has its source in the mountains in Klamala Reserve Forest near Yeetukani
and Vandiplaavukani. Both the rivers join the river Kodayar near Alanchola and Thirpparappu village. Pazhayar originates in the south of Mahendragiri peak surrounded by the Tirunelveli district in the east, Tambaraparani river basin in the west and by the Arabian Sea in the south. The Valliyar starts from Velimalai in Kalkulam Taluk. The river Bomfurivaikkal originates from the hills located near Valvachakostam Village. The Ponnivaikkal originates from the Puliyadicheri hills. Irrigation Irrigation projects may be in the form of surface flow or ground water irrigation. Surface flow irrigation covers rivers, canals, tanks, springs and others and ground water through wells. An account of these sources is given in Table 4.7.
Table 4.7 Area irrigated by different sources in Kanyakumari district Name of Source A) Surface Flow Irrigation Canals Tanks Springs and others Total B) Ground Water Irrigation Tube wells Ordinary wells Others Gross Area Irrigated in ha 13,454 24,999 224 38,677 3 1,757 299 Percentage 33.03 61.37 0.55 94.95 0.01 4.31 0.73 Total 2,059 5.05 Total Area Irrigated (A+B) 40,736 100 Source : G Returns, District Statistical Office, Nagercoil, 2004. The surface flow irrigation is the major source in this district. Nearly 94.95 per cent of the total irrigated area is covered by the surface flow irrigation sources and the remaining 5.05 percent by ground water irrigation sources.
Table 4.8 Development of irrigation in the district Name of channel Old wet (acres) Conversion (acres) Total area (acres) Thovalai channel N.P. Channel Pazhayar Anandanar system E.K. Kal system P.P. Channel system Thiruvithamcode system 5386 7281 6642 5868 2106 4253 3825 7478 1708 188 4032 4800 339 4377 12864 8990 6830 9901 6907 4592 8202 Total 35364 22925 58284 Source: Ago Stat 2003, Joint Director of Agriculture, Kanyakumari, p.165. Table 4.8 shows that the construction of the seven irrigation channels, while helped in the stabilization of 35,364 acres of wet land, has contributed to the conversion of 22,925 acres of dry land into wet land. Conversion is followed by a change in the crops cultivated from coarse cereals and pulses to paddy. However, variability in the quantum of rainfall in recent times has led to the conversion of paddy lands into coconut groves. In the 70s for four consecutive years (1973-76) and in the 90 s for eight years (1985-92), the rainfall was below normal. The cultivators were not prepared to gamble with paddy under such uncertainties, and they turn to the next best alternative of coconut.
Coconut crop is found in the tail-end area of rivers and canals because of repeated failure of paddy crop especially at the dough stage caused by inadequate supply of water. Irrigation Systems The ancient irrigation works in this district dates back well over thousand years. The Pandian dam across the river Paraliyar and the feeding channel known as Pandiankal were constructed by the ancient rulers about one thousand years ago. Table 4.9 lists the rivers, dams and the canals of the districts. Irrigation may be defined as the supply of water by human efforts for the cultivation of crops. The function of irrigation is to supplement the supplies of water obtained in the form of rain on the area to be cultivated during the seasons and to extend required water for the successful cultivation of crops. In Kanyakumari district, rivers, dams, channels are the important sources of irrigation. These sources are shown in table 4.9.
Table 4.9 Various sources of irrigation Rivers Dams Channels Thamirabarani Pandiyan Dam Pandiyan Kalvai Pazhayar Valliyar Ponnaiah Vaikal Paraliyar Puthen Dam Pechiparai Dam Perunchani Dam Chittar Dam I Chittar Dam II Thovalai channel Regulatory Kalvai Anandhanar channel Source: Indian Overseas Bank Annual Credit Plan. Agriculture Nanchilnadu Puthanar Channel Padmanabhapuram Puthanar channel Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Kanyakumari district. The total number of cultivators are 16067 and the agricultural labourers are 81,999. The total area cultivated in 2003-04 was 94374 hectares and the net area sown was 79713 hectares. The area sown more than once is 14661. The land use pattern in Kanyakumari district is given in Table 4.10. Table 4.10 Land use pattern in Kanyakumari district 2003-04 Particulars Area in ha % to Total Geographical Area Position Forests 54,155 32.39 II Barren and uncultivable land 3,335 1.99 IV Land put to non agricultural 25,435 15.21 III uses Culturable waste 2,233 1.33 V Permanent pastures and 763 0.04 VIII grazing land Land and miscellaneous trees 611 0.37 VII & groves Fallow land 1,630 0.97 VI Net sown area 79,713 47.68 I Source: Asst. Director of Statistics, Chennai District Statistical Office, Nagercoil, 2003-04.
The area under forests represents both government and private lands covered by forests. In Kanyakumari district, 39 per cent of the total area is occupied by forests. The barren and uncultivable land comprises the land under mountains and deserts. Such lands are not fit for cultivation purposes. Only 1.99 per cent of the total land has been identified as barren and uncultivable. The land put to non-agricultural uses covers the lands used for the construction of buildings, roads, railways, the area covered by water and similar other activities. This accounts for 1.21 per cent. Culturable waste refers to the land which is available for cultivation but not cultivated during the current year and previous five years or more. Only 01.33 percent land account for this culturable waste. Fallow land consists of current fallows and other fallow lands. Current fallows are the cultivable lands which are kept fallow after the harvest. This accounts for 0.97 percent. The net area sown is the area cropped at least once in an agricultural year. It accounted for 47.68 per cent to the total geographical area in the year 2003-04.
Kanyakumari district became a distinct unit of administration in 1956 (November), after states reorganization. Since then the cropping pattern has undergone some clear changes. Table 4.11 Cropping pattern trends (in hectares) Crop 1957-58 Average for 60 s Paddy 56,686 58,167 Average for 70 s 53,265 Average for 80 s 42,124 Average for 90 s 38,067 Average for 2007-08 27,923 Tapioca 8,672 14,619 13,140 11,364 9,362 7,343 Banana 1,017 1,405 1,842 2,354 3,549 5,087 Coconut 8,129 10,643 14,635 16,878 20,423 23,212 Rubber 3,472 5,517 9,484 13,366 20,636 18,278 Source: Computed from season and crop reports of Tamilnadu, various years. The contents of the above table show that there has been a steep (47 percent) decline in the area under paddy, as against a phenomenal increase in the areas under banana (5 times), coconut (3 times) and rubber (5 times). Technological Change and Agricultural Productivity In addition to the physical factors, agricultural production, to a great extent, depends upon the agricultural technology. In Kanyakumari district, agricultural technology has been developed in two stages viz., traditional technology and new technology. The
traditional technology was in practice before the introduction of new strategy of Green Revolution. 7 Technological change in agriculture is concerned with the adoption of new high yielding variety seeds, increased use of chemical fertilizers, extensive use of plant protection chemicals, improved agricultural tools and machinery. The adoption of these components depends upon the factors like irrigation, size of farm holdings, farm capital, price of produce and agricultural extension service. Fisheries Kanyakumari district is famous for fish production. It has both inland and coastal fishing centres. It has a long coastal line of 68 km. Fish find a good place in the diet of the people of Kanyakumari district; a variety of fishes are produced in Kanyakumari district. It has five coastal blocks and 42 coastal landing centres. 37,250 tonnes of marine and 3708 tonnes of inland fishes are produced annually in this district. Industries Kanyakumari district is an industrially backward district. It has only 649 registered working factories. The number of large
scale industries are four and those of medium, small and cottage industries are 645, 991 and 121 respectively. 8 The District Industrial Centre in Kanyakumari district classified the existing industrial units into seven main groups. (1) Agro-based Industries, (2) Forest-based industries, (3) Foodbased industries, (4) Chemical-based industries, (5) Electrical and electronic industries, (6) Engineering industries and (7) Miscellaneous industries. An agro-based industry is one which produces things for the local market and uses agricultural products as its main raw material. On the basis of this criteria, the District Industrial Centre has identified nearly 287 variety of industrial units as agro-based industries in Kanyakumari district. These industries are located in rural areas and absorb the rural labour supply for their existence.
THOVALAI TALUK Thovalai taluk is spread over an area of 359 sq. km. flanked on the north by the hills of the Western Ghats, on the east by Tirunelveli district, west and south by Kalkulam and Agasteeswaram taluks. The highest hill in the district is Mahendragiri (165 m) of Thovalai taluk. Population In Thovalai taluk, there is no urban area and hence the entire area of the taluk is considered as rural. The total population of the taluk was 1,10,719 in 2001; out of the total population 55,057 were, males, 55,662 were females; 11.50% of the population belongs to SC (high ratio in the district) 0.4% ST. The density of population was only 265 per sq. km. (the lowest in the district). The literacy rate of the taluk is 76.89 percent. The distribution of male and female population in the rural and urban areas is shown in Table 4.12.
Table 4.12 Region wise classification of population Population Rural Urban Male Female 55057 55662 - - Source: Census of India 2001. Education This taluk has 10 primary schools, seven government high schools, one government aided high school, seven government higher secondary schools, one government aided higher secondary school, six matriculation high schools, two matriculation higher secondary schools, two schools for the mentally diabled and one international standard school. In addition to these, there are, two polytechnics, three industrial training institutes, two colleges of education, one teacher training institute, two community colleges, one arts and science college and nine engineering colleges. Land Utilisation The total agricultural output depends on the quantity and quality of land available and its uses. Table 4.13 shows the land utilization details.
Table 4.13 Land utilization in Thovalai taluk Classification Forest Baren and uncultivable land Land put under non-agricultural uses Cultivable lands Permanent pastures Land under miscellaneous tree crops Current fallow Other fallow Net area sown Total cropped area Area sown more than once Source: District States Hand Book (2000-2001) Area in hectare 20856 820 3819 99 72 76 1204 1070 8893 13063 4270 Agriculture Palmyrah topes are on a lesser scale in Thovalai taluk. Arecanut is grown to some extent in Thovalai taluk. Kolunthu is cultivated at Thovalai and this has become famous for its aroma. Wet Transplanted, Semi dry (April May) and 3. Wet direct sown (May-June) are the three methods of cultivation practiced in channel fed areas, the second method and the third method are practiced in places where plenty of water is available. In Thovalai taluk, there are 59 units under rubber plantation.
Irrigation Thovalai taluk has 92 rainfed tanks (Manavari) and 118 system tanks (Channel fed). Thovalai taluk has a non-system tank, namely, Chenbagaramanputhoor Periyakulam and the Ayacut under the tank is 213.49 acres. 9 Besides, it has 96.8 km. long canals and 285 wells used for irrigation purpose only. 4.2.11 Banking and Finance There are 9 commercial banks in 7 villages which are functioning in Thovalai taluk - in Aralvoimozhi, Bank of Tamil Nadu Limited and State Bank of India; in Bhoothapandy, Canara Bank and State Bank of Travancore; Bank of Tamil Nadu Limited in Thazhakudi, IOB in Thittuvilai; IOB in Thovalai; Canara Bank in Azhagiapandiyapuram and SBI in Thadikarankonam. The Kanyakumari District Central Co-operative Bank Limited, Nagercoil provides crop insurance in Thovalai taluk. In addition to these, there are nine primary co-operative banks functioning in this taluk and issuing agricultural credits to the farmers.
AGASTHESWARAM TALUK Agasteeswaram taluk, spread over an area of 276 sq. km. is one of the four constituent taluks of Kanyakumari distict. This taluk is bounded by the three seas: the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It is surrounded on the north by Thovalai taluk, on the north-east by Tirunelveli district, on the east by the Bay of Bengal and the west by Kalkulam taluk. It is situated in the southern most tip of the Indian Sub continent. Nagercoil, the head quarters town of the distict is located within this taluk. Population The total population of Agasteeswaram taluk as per 2001 census was 4,92,714; of the total population, 2,43,831 were males and 2,48,883 were females. The density of population in Agasteeswaram taluk is 940 persons per sq.km. The proportion of female population is high in both rural and urban regions (The literacy rate of the taluk is 84.96 percent). The distribution of male and female population in the rural and urban areas is shown in Table 4.14.
Table 4.14 Regionwise classification of population Population Region Rural Male 1,38,173 Female 1,40,967 Urban Total 1,05,658 2,43,831 1,07,916 2,48,883 Total 2,79,140 2,13,574 4,92714 Source: Census of India 2001, pp. 80-81 Education This Taluk is educationally advanced. There are 36 primary schools, 11 government high schools, six government aided high schools, seven government higher secondary schools, 17 governmnt aided higher secondary schools, 16 matriculation high schools, 23 matricultation higher secondary schools, two schools for the mentally disabled and one international standard school. In addition to these, there are two polytechnics, 19 industrial training institutes, three colleges for education, three teacher training institute, 10 community colleges, six arts and science colleges (2 for women) and six engineering colleges. Recently, a government medical college was also opened. In literacy, the taluk stands first
in Kanyakumari district, it has been declared as 100 percent literate. Land Utilisation The total agricultural output depends on the quantity and quality of land available and its uses. The total cropped area in the taluk comes to 11,551 hectares. Table 4.15 shows the land utilization details. Table 4.15 Land utilization in Agasteeswaram taluk Classification Forest Baren and uncultivable land Land put under non-agricultural uses Cultivable lands Permanent pastures Land under miscellaneous tree crops Current fallow Other fallow Net area sown Total cropped area Area sown more than once Source: District States Hand Book (2000-2001) Area in hectare 795 583 4221 -- -- -- -- -- 8195 11581 3386
Agriculture This block is fully dependent upon the agricultural sector. Paddy, pulses and banana are the major food crops in the block, whereas coconut, vegetables, fruits, cashewnut are the major commercial crops in the block. An important feature of this block is the production of off-season mangoes. Of the different crops (in 2003-04), paddy occupied 69% of cropped area, coconut was calculated over 23% of the area and banana only 9%. Irrigation The taluk falls in the higher rainfall zone, where both southwest and north-east monsoon are active. This taluk receives higher amount of rainfall from south-west monsoon. Tanks and channels are the most important sources of irrigation in this taluk. There are 247 tanks and 26 km. long canals in the taluk. The area under different irrigation facilities is furnished in Table 4.16. Table 4.16 Area under different sources of irrigation in Agasteeswaram taluk Tanks Canals Wells Others Source Gross area Percentage variation 10,502.95 51.37 8,184.55 40.03 1,573.20 7.69 181.70 0.90 Total 20,442.40 100.00 Source: Agasteeswara taluk office, G. return for 2003-04 Nagercoil p.5.
Table 4.16 exhibits that tanks pose the first place by facilitating irrigation for 10,502.95 hec. (51.37%), canals occupy the second place in the total area under irrigation, facilitating 8184.55 hec. (40.03%). Wells supply water to 1573 hec. (7.69%) of the total area. The number of wells has been increasing as a result of intensive cultivation, frequent monsoon failure and lack of irrigation facilities as this taluk is the tail end. The other sources of irrigation supply only 0.90 percent of the total land under cultivation. Banking and Finance Banks are available in plenty in this taluk. The village people get various types of loans from government and private banks and they include the scheduled commercial banks, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies and Co-operative banks. People are getting jewel loan, agricultural loan and vehicle loan from these financial institutions. In this taluk, there are 63 commercial banks, six district central cooperative banks and 15 primary cooperative banks.
REFERENCES 1. Ibid.,p.1. 2. District Profile, District Statistical Office, Nagercoil, 2003-04. 3. Ibid. 4. Office of the Assistant Director of Statistics, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil, 2003. 5. Annual Action Plan for Kanyakumari District, Indian Overseas Bank Bulletin, 2001,p.11. 6. Soil Atlas of Kanyakumari District, Soil Testing Labouratory, Nagercoil, 2003-04. 7. G. Returns, District Statistical Office, Nagercoil,2003-04. 8. General Manager, District Industrial Centre, Nagercoil 2003-04. 9. Ibid., P.334.