NILGIRIS DISTRICT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY DISTRICT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT THE Introduction

 The Nilgiri district is the hilly part of . In Sanskrit, the Nilgiris means “Blue Mountains” and in Tamil “Neelamalai”. The Nilgiris district is also known as “The Queen of Hill Stations” is situated at an elevation of 900 to 2636 meters above MSL. Approximately 65% of the geographical area of this district lies at an altitude of 1800-2500 meters above MSL and there maining 35% at lower altitude.  The climate is temperate to sub-tropical. The average annual rain fall ranges from 950 to1550mm.  The Nilgiri district is situated in the north western part of the state in the Western Ghats. It differs considerably from its neighbouring districts with respect to the agro- climatic conditions.  The Nilgiri district is surrounded by the Coimbatore district, Kerala and Karnataka States on the eastern, western and the northern side respectively.  The district is a summer resort for tourists from the entire world. Udhagamandalam the headquarters of Nilgiris has once been the venue of TamilNadu Legislative Assembly.

1  The Geographical area of this districtis 2,544 square kilometers and consists of six taluks namely Udhagamandalam, Kundha, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Gudalur and Pandalur. The unique feature of Nilgiri district is that about 56% of the total area of the district is under forest. Geography

 The Nilgiris is a tiny district in the Western Ghats located between 1o10 and 11045Nl atitude and 76014 and 7702E longitude.  About 60% of the cultivable land falls under the slope ranging from 10 to 33%.  Basically a Horticultural District, the entire economy depends on the success and failure of horticulture crops like potato, cabbage, tea, coffee, spices and fruits. Topography

 In Nilgiri District, the topography is rolling and steep.  The entire district is hilly and is divided into natural zones viz., the Nilgiris plateau and table land. Soil Condition

 The district is pronetol and slides and soil erosion during heavy rains.  The majority soil in the district is sandy loam, redloa my soil and black soil seen in the riverbed areas.

2 Status of Human Development

 HDI of Coonoor block was the highest (0.69) followed by Udhagai block (0.68), (0.52) and (0.51) and indicating that inter-block disparity.  Gudalur block was backward in the three computed dimensions standard of living indicator, health indicator, high IMR (5) and high U5MR (4), low literacy rates (86).  Kotagiri block was the second lowest block in the district, the reasons were less access to cooking fuel (58%), toilet facilities (50.76%) in standard of living, whereas the health indicators were high MMR (227) and high IMR(70).  Based on GII, Gudalur (0.03) was designated as the first rank, followed by Coonor (0.04) Udhagai(0.06)and Kotagiri (0.08).  In Kotagiri block, the GII value was high due to high MMR (227), share of female children(0-6) years was low (48.44%) and low female work participation rate(44.75%).  In Udhagai block, higher MMR(72), low female work participation rate and low female work participation rate in non-agricultural sector.  The child development index highlights that the performance differs only on health rather than education in the district.

3  Coonoor (0.80) had the highest CDI, followed by Udhagai (0.65), Kotagiri (0.53) and Gudalur (0.51). The health and education index was favourable in Coonoor block (1.0) when compared to Udhagai and Gudalur blocks.  Gudalur block had high U5MR(5), malnourished children(18%) under health indicators; comparatively low transition rate from primary to upper primary (97.6%) and upper primary to secondary (97.63%) under education indicators which contributed to its poor performance.  In Kotagiri block, high proportion of malnourished children(24%), comparatively lower transition rate from primary to upper primary (98.20%) and upper primary to secondary (97.34%) were the education indicators that caused poor performance in CDI.  Kotagiri (0.62) had the highest MPI, followed by Udhagai (0.52),Gudalur (0.41), and Coonoor (0.33).  Kotagiri block had high IMR(17), higher percentage of malnourished children (24%) low access to cooking fuel (58%), and toilet facilities (50.76%) which indicated multiple deprivations. Employment Income and Poverty

 The total workers in the district were 54 % of the total population.

4  Total workers in the Nilgiris District had increased from 47.40 % in 2001 to 54.32 % in 2011.  Work Participation Rate (WPR), in the district is 50 percent, and there is not much variation in the WPR between 2001 and 2011. The female WPR has slightly decreased from 39.55 percent to 39.37 percent. There is wide disparity in WPR between rural and urban population. The WPR is more than double among males in urban areas compared to that of rural areas.  Per capita income of the district was Rs. 51738 in 2011-12.  Percentage of registration of households to total households in the district under MGNRGES was 65.40%.  Among the total number of households in the district, 32.19 per cent of families were below poverty line and the highest registered was in Coonoor (44.62%), followed by Udhagai 43.18%), Kotagiri (38.14 %) and Gudalur block (16.73 %) in 2013-14.  90% of the total households in the district had family cards.  It was observed that there was a declining trend in terms of employing children.  The number of cultivators has drastically come down in the district. This has been offset by increase of agricultural labourers, household industry workers, and other

5 workers. It reveals that there is a transition from agriculture to non- agriculture activities due to fluctuating green leaf tea prices.  The role of district employment exchange in providing employment is very marginal and the opportunities are very limited in government sector. Demography, Health and Nutrition

 The district population growth rate was 7.35 lakhs in 2011 and the population density has decreased from 299 in 2001 to 288 in the year 2011.  The percentage of SC and ST population decreased from 30.75 % to 25 % respectively in 2011 in the district.  The CBR was 12.6 in 2009 and 10.5 in 2013 while CDR was 1.9 in 2001 and 4.6 in 2013.  The highest CBR was found in Gudalur (13.30) followed by Coonoor (10.1) and Udhagai (9.9). In the case of urban areas, the crude birth rate was the same both in Udhagai Municipality and Coonoor which accounted for 9.3 per thousand in 2013-14.  The CDR in the district was 4.6 in 2013-14 which was found to be the highest in Udhagai (7.1), followed by Coonoor (6.9), Gudalur (4.6) and Kotagiri (2.8). Udhagai Municipality and Coonoor were considered as urban areas in the district.

6  The sex ratio of the district was 1014 and 1041 in 2001 and 2011 when compared with the State average (996). Child sex ratio was 979 in 2001 and 1008 in 2011 and the state average of 943.  The life expectancy at birth is 77.9 whereas; it was 75.9 for male and 80.10 years for female in 2013.  The Infant Mortality Rate in the Nilgiri district was 10.70 in 2013-14 which was lower than the State average (21). The IMR was the highest in Udhagai (16 ), followed by Kotagiri (15) and Coonoor (13). The overall IMR in all blocks had a decreasing trend. This is a positive sign for health indicators.  The MMR was in 74.75 in 2013 which was higher than the State average (68). The MMR was the highest in Kotagiri (227) and Udhagai (72 ). This was due to lack of medical facilities in the remote tribal hamlets. Socio-economic factors also play a crucial role, for instance, patriarchal attitudes, the enormous burden of hard toil and poor nutrition, the lacunae in transport and communication facilities, delay in accessing proper health facilities and the lack of and/or poor quality of essential and emergency obstetric service.  In the case of institutional deliveries, 36 percent of the institutional deliveries were in government hospitals, 34 percent in private hospitals, 28 percent in PHCs.

7  When compared to 2007, the Still Birth Rate had declined in 2011 in all the blocks of the district except Kotagiri. The overall still birth rate in the district had increased. The still birth rate in the district was 12 in 2013-14.  The percentage of underweight (MUW+SUW) children (below 5 age group) in the district was 16.93 in 2013-14.  The percentage of children immunized in Nilgiri District was 99.4 percent in 2013-14. 100 percent achievement of immunizing children was noticed in Gudalur, Udhagai and urban areas.  98.41 of household had access to drinking water.The highest water facility was available in Kotagiri with 98.60 percent, followed by Gudalur (98.49), Udhagai (98.18) and Coonoor (95.56).  59.65 of the households had toilet facilities.Coonoor block had the highest percentage i.e. 71.41 percent, followed by Gudalur block with 63.88 percent, Udhagai with 52.53 percent and Kotagiri with 50.76 percent.  Provision of IFA tablets was found as 99 percent.  It was found that positive TB in the district was 193 persons the positive cases of TB had increased from 227 in 2007 to 230 in 2011. Among all the blocks, Gudalur registered the highest number of positive cases (75) and

8 Coonoor with 62. Except Udhagai, all blocks had a decreasing trend in TB cases in the years 2013-14.  More persons in the age group of 25-29 and 30-39 were affected by HIV among both male and female in 2013-14. The overall HIV positive cases in the district in both male and female had increased to 32 male and 20 female in 2013 from 29 male and 16 female in 2011.  The district’s health administration had provided all types of health care services and tracking each and every case through VHNs and has controlled IMR, MMR and SBR in the district. Literacy and Education  The literacy rate in the district as per 2011 census was 85.65 percent, male literacy was 92.15 percent and female literacy was 79.44 per cent. The district literacy rate had increased from 82.45% in 2001 to 85.13 % in 2011. Among all blocks, Udhagai (88.12%) stands the first, followed by Coonoor (86.10 %), Gudalur (85.10 %) and Kotagiri (81.20 percent), it was found that the literacy rate was found to be higher in 2011 than in 2001. The literacy rates in Kotagiri and Gudalur blocks was slightly lower than the district average.  In 2013-14, the gross enrolment ratio in primary education in the district was 99.92%. The overall enrolment rate was lower in girls

9 category (97.89%) than boys (98.12%). District male and female enrolment ratio were 98.02 per cent and 97.59 % respectively.  The overall completion rate of students in primary schools is 98.81 during the year 2013-14. The completion rate of students was found to be low in Gudalur (97.87 %) and high in Kotagiri (99.48 %) during the year 2013- 14. The completion rate of student’s upper primary schools was 98.85 % in Nilgris district, 99.37 % in Coonoor block and 99.87 % in Gudalur during the year 2013-14. The completion rate in primary was higher than upper primary education in 2013-14 in all blocks. Both completion rates were found to be lower in Gudalur block.The completion rate of students was found to be low in Gudalur (97.87 %) and high in Coonoor (99.37 %).  The overall dropout rate in the district was 0.95. The upper primary dropout ratio was 1.70 % in 2013-14, whereas it was 1.66 % in 2011-12. Almost all blocks had the same trend. The dropout ratio was found to be higher in boys (1.73%) than female (1.59%). In the district, Gudalur block had the maximum dropout rate of boy students from 2.81 % in 2011-12 to 4.06 % in 2013-14.  The pupil-teacher ratio in Nilgiris district is 19. Within the district Udhagai block had the lowest pupil-teacher ratio. The pupil-teacher ratio in Nilgiri district was 19 in primary school and 22 in upper primary schools in 2013-14.

10 Within the district, Coonoor block had the lowest pupil-teacher ratio in both primary and upper primary schools.  Out of 414 schools in the district, 249 schools had three class rooms and 165 schools had more than 3 class rooms in Nilgiris district. 1481 students were in welfare Hostels.  The development of higher education in the district was least when compared to other districts since there were only four Arts Colleges, one Engineering College, one Pharmacy College and three Polytechnic Colleges. Gender  In rural areas of the district, sex ratio is 1054 females per 1000 males. The child sex ratio data of the district is 990 girls per 1000 boys.  The sex ratio was 1041 which was more than the State and nation. The female literacy rate in the district was 79.44 percent, MMR was 74.75, women workers in agriculture sector was 38 percent and non-agricultural sector was 24.5 percent.  The gender inequality index reveals that there is no significant difference in terms of health, empowerment, and labour market. The State and district administration have introduced various women centered development programmes for promoting women to participate in socio – economic and political life.

11  Political participation of women in State Assembly and Panchayat Raj institutions empower women. At the district level, the female participation rate was 36.5 percent. Social Security

 The percentage of male population aged above 60 is 15.50 % and female (11.40%). The more number of aged persons are in Gudalur, Udhagai and Coonoor blocks.  8445 persons are benefiting from different OAP schemes. The role of destitute widows and destitute deserted widow’s financial assistance scheme benefits is remarkable in the district and all the targeted groups have benefited.  Altogether the total differently abled persons in the district was 10121.  The highest crime against women was molestation (26.79 %), followed by rape (22.32 %) and sexual harassment (19.64%). No crime was reported against women with respect to dowry death and attempt to rape. Overall considering all types of crime against women in Nilgiris District it was about 112 cases in 2013-14.  Maternity assistance was provided to all the targeted population. Infrastructure  The district has been equipped parallel to the state infrastructural development in terms of

12 road, railways, electricity, communication facilities and financial institution. However, the quality of infrastructure may be scaled up for achieving sustainability.  The total road length in the district was 3006 Km The length of National Highways in the Nilgiri district was 971 km. The State Highways covered a distance of 124 km. Among all blocks, Gudalur district had higher road length (498), followed by Udhagai (339 Km).  Total electricity generated from the Nilgiri district was 438241 mw. Nearly 91 percent of the population had adequate electrification.  Population covered in electrification is 94 percent in Udhagai, 95.8 percent in Coonoor, 94.3 percent in Kotagiri and 79 percent in Gudalur. Total number of street lights in the district was10901 numbers in 2011.  Total number of telephone and telecommunications in the district was 36352. Number of telephone exchanges established was 46.  The Co-operative primary agricultural banks with an increase of 2.1 % membership and 10 private bank sectors were working in the district.  The total number of nationalized banks in Nilgiri District was 65 numbers which had 11052 accounts and 117799 lakhs disbursed amount for various purposes.

13  The credit deposit of the co-operative banks was the highest than other banks in the Nilgiri district.  Total rural postal life insurance branches in the district were 170, the total numbers of policy holders was 3,763 and they had assured an amount of Rs.31,223 crores. Since, the establishment of branches of Life Insurance Corporation of India was there, number of policies issued was 30456 and the assured amount was 2,468 crores.  30 drying yards, one cold storage and 25 carrot washing machines and one market complex are in the district.  166 Tea processing factories (23 – Govt and 143-private), 24 nos. of Coffee grinding units and one pepper processing unit were functioning.  No regulated markets and storage go-downs were there in the district.  The Nilgiris district attracts more number of tourists and so the district faces a huge pressure on the infrastructure.  Situated in the classified Nilgiris Bio-sphere, the district needs extra attention while taking efforts to initiate any development plans.  Sustained development with environmental protection will only be able to help the district retain its pristine beauty.

14 Conclusion  The core issues as well as some incidental development occurred over the years through various Central and State government sponsored programmes in the district. The human development perspective was seen that adequate attention was needed for the worst two blocks, that had performed well below the level of district such as Gudalur (0.51) and Kotagiri (0.52).

 Among the four blocks, government could prioritize sectors and earmark funds for achieving human development uniformly in all the areas of the Nilgiris District.

 A significant proportion of aged population live in the district. It is observed that the family system has changed from joint family to nuclear family, tries to exclude the aged population. In realizing the importance, the government had introduced various financial security schemes for the aged.

 The analysis revealed that the district has been equipped reasonably well when compared to the state infrastructural development in terms of road, railways, electricity, communication facilities and financial institutions. However, the quality of infrastructure may be scaled up for achieving durability and easing out discomfort and controlling deterioration of vehicles. Since the

15 infrastructure has certain uniqueness, it has to be analyzed in detail.  Further for achieving faster human development, infrastructure would be the complementary input for development. 

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