International Journal of Research ISSN NO : 2236-6124

Position of Important Village Industries in District

K. Vijayakumari Ph.D. Research Scholar (Reg. No.9712) Department of History, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, – 627 012, ,

Dr. Revathi Thomas Research Supervisor Post Graduate and Research Department of History, Women’s Christian College, – 629 001. (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli – 627 012, Tamil Nadu, India)

Kanyakumari is mainly an agricultural district. Its prosperity is mainly dependent on the development of agricultural resources. Intensive efforts are increasingly being made to raise the yield of different crops by adopting modern methods of cultivation. But agriculture alone cannot contribute to increase the income of the local people, since the area of cultivation is limited in relation to its growing population. Therefore, it is imperative that secondary sectors, particularly cottage industries, are also developed in order to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed. This paper seeks to highlight the position of some of the important village industries in .

Keywords: NABARD, Credit, Rural Development, Rural Prosperity.

Introduction Village industries may be defined as those that manufacture articles needed in the villages utilizing tools and implements, raw materials, and human or animal power which are locally available. These industries play a vital role in the district in view of their capacity to generate employment opportunities in the rural sector at a low capital cost, developing local initiative, co-operation and a spirit of self reliance in the economy, helping in the utilization of the available manpower for processing locally simple techniques, offering employment at the place of residence to a large section of rural population and providing seasonal part time employment to the rural people suffering from underemployment owing to the seasonal character of agricultural operations.

Further, cottage industries require lesser gestation period and produce goods required by the common man. They are eminently suited for initiating the process of industrialization in the backward areas of the district on a dispersed basis and they have the capacity to rectify the regional imbalances. These industries have, therefore, been accorded an important place in this credit plan with a view to achieve rapid industrialization of rural areas.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission and Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries Board provide assistance to artisans by way of loans for meeting working capital requirements and also for the purchase of tools and implements in the cases of selected industries. Besides these, they also assist the respective industries in marketing their products, in training their artisans and in promoting research in the production techniques.

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One of the main bottlenecks which hampers the growth of industries in this district is the non-availability of vacant lands for setting up industries. The high cost of land also contributes to low development of industries in this district. Though this district has got enough raw materials and infrastructural facilities, it has to take a seat in the back bench in the field of industrial development. With the growing rate of unemployment due to stiff competition from other districts, the educated youth of this district are now inclined to take up industrial ventures. It is therefore, expected that there will be rapid industrial development in this district in the coming years.

The details of rural industries in this district are discussed below. Banana Fibre: Banana fibre is used to produce bags, table mats, and many other items. Banana fibre crafts is flourishing in Agasteeswaram and Killiyoor blocks. The value of the banana fibre products produced in the year 1999 2000 was estimated at Rs. 180970003. Wood Carving: This is very popular in the district which is evident from the fact that even today one can see the workmanship in the temple doors and the furniture in the monumental palace at . However, lack of encouragement and increase in production costs have led to the wane of this traditional craft. The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited in order to encourage and promote industries, have set up a Poompuhar Temple Car Training Centre at Nagercoil to impart training in wood crafts such as wood carvings, building temple cars and carved wooden doors. To market the finished products, a showroom with sales centre in Kanyakumari has been set up by the Poompuhar. This product commands good demand at Kanyakumari. In Kanyakumari district, the value of wood carving articles produced in the year 1999-2000 stood at Rs.36400006. Sandal Wood Carving: Sandal wood is used to make portraits of god and goddess, panels and the like. The value of sandal wood carvings produced in Kanyakumari district in the year 1999-2000 was Rs.250000. Stone Carving: This is a traditional craft which flourished under the Pandiyan kings known for their inexorable interest in art and architecture. In the temple at Suchindrum which is known for its exquisite stone carvings is a standing monument of the ancient architectural marvels. This traditional art has found its way into the 20th century also, for example the Vivekananda Rock Memorial was constructed meticulously with blue and red granite. The red granite used for the shikharams of the mandapam is very unique and imposing. It has won the appreciation of one and all the world over. These two constructions thus reveal the traditional standards and the perfection attained in architecture. In fact it is a harmonious blend of traditional art and architecture. These arts still have roots in Mylaudy Thirupathisaram and Aralvoimozhi. Lace and Embroidery Work: This craft was popularized in Kanyakumari district by the early missionaries. The workmen ship of the needle craft practiced in the district is superb. The craft is now so important especially for its prospects in employing the largest number of rural women folk. The artisans have their own designs, colours and patterns. Lace and embroidery manufacturing centers are found concentrated in Nagercoil, , Neyyoor, Mulagamood, Kanjiracode, Irenipuram, Ki lliyoor, Raj akkamangalam, Kuruthancode, and . The C.S.I. Lace and Embroidery unit, Nagercoil is the pioneer institution, which manufactures and exports the lace and the embroidery products of village women. Kora Grass Mat: This is one of the most popular crafts of this district. This is a cottage industry which employs a large number of womenfolk and children. The korai grass is not available locally but procured from Karur in district and in North Arcot district. However, the korai grass available in Vellore is much different from the same available in Karur. The popular korai grass varieties used here are Koolamattam and Marmattam. Mat weaving centers are at Thuckalay, Madhavalayam, Sooraangudi, Thittuvilai, Ethampoly, Irnepuram, Killiyoor, Athicode, Thiruvancode, Kanyakumari, blocks, blocks and . The kora grass is used to produce mats of various designs and colours. The value of kora grass mats produced in the year 1999-2000 was found to be Rs. 15999000 in Kanyakumari district.

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Reed and Bamboo Articles: The area situated right below the has a reserve of lush forest where there is an abundant supply of reeds and bamboos. They grow in the midst of rubber, cardamom and other commercial crops. Mat weaving is purely a cottage industry. This craft is practiced by tribal people mostly inhabiting places below the mountain slopes. Though a wide range of articles are being made in this district, the most popular is the conical basket which is commercially used for packing fruits, flowers, betel leaves and the like. Modern units located at Kanyakumari are manufacturing dinner mats and wall hangings as well. Palm Leaf and Screw pine Articles: This is also one of the important crafts in Kanyakumari district. Mostly, adivasis and backward communities living along the slopes of western ghats have taken up to this avocation such as baskets and mat weaving out of palm leaf and screw pine which are used in packing betel leaves, fruits, flowers, fishes, etc. for transportation. These baskets are in big demand locally. Fancy bags are also manufactured. Palmyrah leaf products are largely manufactured in all the blocks. These industries are amply found in Edaicode, Mecode, Thiruvithan code, Palugal, Azhagiamandapam, Mettukadai and Thuckalay. Fancy articles which attract the attention of the tourists such as baskets and boxes with coloured leaf are manufactured on a large scale in tourist place like Kanyakumari. On an average, an artisan can weave 4 to 6 mats a day. Apart from the value of the palm as a source of gur and other products, the palmyrah palm also gives a fibre which has special characteristics and are in demand in many foreign countries for the manufacture of brushes. The fibre is extracted from the base of the palm leaf sheath of young trees. The artisans take young palms on lease for the extraction of fibre. The fibre is usually sold to traders who in turn either export the fibre to foreign countries or sell it locally to the brush manufacturers. The raw fibre is sorted out, combed, dyed and then sold out to the traders. Palm leaf product is also used to produce fancy caps, trays, bags of different designs and varieties. The total value of palm leaf products produced in the year 1999-2000 was estimated at Rs.3034000 in this district. Sea Shell Craft: Varieties of beautiful and exquisite fancy shell products are being turned out in the district by deft hands of people, mainly women. They are available in Kanyakumari, Swaminathapuram, , Pottayadi, and areas. The most sought after seashell articles are door curtains, lamp shades, hangers, toys, key chains and paper weights. In Kanyakumari district shell artifices worth Rs.45367000 were produced in 19992000. Laminated Wood Works: With a background of years of experience in turning out artistic items in pure wood the Handicrafts Marketing and Service Extension Centre at Nagercoil has successfully introduced articles made of laminated wood. The tools and techniques have been provided to the manufacturing units here by the Central Handicrafts Development Centre. The most popular items produced are laminated wooden bangles, beads, key chains candle stands, coasters, paper cutters, door curtain hangers, and other gift articles. Articles from Wax: In and around Nagercoil, replicas of vegetables, fruits and the like made out of bee wax, are available for sale in most of the fancy shops. Financial and technical assistance are made available to them every now and then by the government. Wax products are still produced at the cottage level. In 1995, there were 25 units producing articles of wax. It increased to 113 in 1998, 140 in 2001 and came down to 111 in 2003. Handloom Industry: Handloom industry in the district is a traditional and labour intensive industry which is the largest in the unorganised sector. Here, in the district every weaver's house is a mini handloom industry. So, besides agriculture, handloom plays a pivotal role in the district's economy. This industry is concentrated in places such as Kottar, Vadaseri, Elangadai, , and Valvachagoshtam. Kottar which is a suburb of Nagercoil town, and Eraniel in taluk from very early times have been famous for their handloom textiles, particularly laced cloth and turkey towels. In olden days this industry was not only meeting the entire local requirements, but was also meeting the requirements of the other parts of India and even overseas countries. But it is a well known fact that the fortunes of the industry have been unstable here also as elsewhere, so it suffered in the later years for a variety of reasons and faced serious crisis on several occasions, resulting in the weavers being thrown out of employment and naturally producers of handloom cloth had to sustain heavy financial losses.

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The government, therefore have come to the aid of the weavers by setting up the Tamil Nadu State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society at Nagercoil. The society supplied yarn to weavers societies and procured the finished goods and marketed them. A sales emporium has also been opened at Nagercoil to popularize handloom fabrics. There were about 14161 handloom units in 1988-89 in the district of which 11411 looms were under the co- operative sector and the rest were under the private sector. Similarly, there were 77 weavers cooperative societies during the year 1988-89 in the district. The Sales units have been established at Nagercoil, , Vadasery, Monday market and Thuckalay. Coir Industry: There is a great scope for the development of this industry in the district. Coir industry could be seen all along the coastal areas from Kanyakumari to Kollancode. About 95 per cent of the coir produced in the district is sent to places outside the district. Training in the production of two ply yarn is imparted to people in various places. In Kanyakumari 500 people were trained under the integrated rural development programme. To further the scheme of training, the government sanctioned the establishment of a coir school at Ethamozhi which started functioning in 1962. The school offers training to workers in the manufacture of coir mats, mailings, brush mats using modern methods. Spinning of coir yarn is mostly carried out with the aid of the spinning wheels. Ashtamudy, angengo, aratoray vaikam and common beach yarn are some of the varieties of coir manufactured in the district. Coconut is the major plantation crop cultivated in extensive areas in this district. In 2000, the area under coconut plantation in the district was about 22474 hectares. The average yield of coconuts per annum was estimated at 220 million nuts. There were 1050 coir units in this district in the year 2000-2001, under this 10 were co-operative coir societies and 1040 were private sectors. The employment generation under the cooperative sector is 433. In private sectors, the number of people get full time employment are 5247 and 8000 persons get part time works. There is a modern coir factory producing export quality coir mats and mattings with the two ply yarn obtained from local producers and from . The factory can produce not less than 3750 tonnes of mats and mailings annually. Rubber Industry: Rubber plantations in India came to be known as a highly profitable agricultural proposition in 1930. Tamil Nadu stands second in the production of natural rubber in the country and the credit goes to the Kanyakumari district since the entire plantation in the state in this district. The district is well endowed by soil and climate conditions best suited for rubber cultivation. Up to the 50's rubber plantations were under private enterprise. In June, 1960, the government initiated a scheme in the Keeriparai reserve forest area and brought about 2000 acres under plantation, whereas at that time about 16000 acres of rubber plantation were under private enterprise. In 1980 in Kanyakumari district alone 12688 hectares were under rubber plantation as against 12716 hectares in the whole of Tamil Nadu. In 1980-81, 439566 rubber trees were tapped employing 3000 persons, annual yield per tree was 5.35 kg. In 1986, the area under rubber plantation further rose to 13168 hectares in all i.e., government as well as private, employing about 50000 persons. Rubber plantations are widespread along the western ghats in , Kalkulam and Thovalai taluks and in places like Keeriparai, Paralaiyar, Manalodai, Chithar, Mylar and areas. Rubber available here is of a superior quality equivalent to Malasian products. Nowadays, rubber is cultivated in 15700 hectares in this district. The annual yield of raw rubber is estimated at 92000 M.T. The rubber in the form sheets and latex offer ample scope for industrial utilization. Major portion of raw rubber produced in this district is taken to other districts and Kerala state for the manufacturing of various rubber products. This offers good scope for starting rubber based industries such as, rubber bands, balls, hand gloves, rubber threads, thread rubber, rubber rollers, tyres and tubes, rubber molded auto parts etc in this district. Chank Industry: Chank is available along the sea coast from Kadiyapattanam to Nerodai. Prior to the merger of the areas, which are under the present Kanyakumari district with Tamil Nadu, the chank fishing right was enjoyed by the Maharajah of . However, with the transfer of this area to Tamil Nadu, the rights went to the government and chank fishing was operated in the district departmentally till 14th April 1960. From 15th April 1960, the fishing was leased out to private parties. Subsequently, the government revised the policy and declared the entire costal area of Tamil Nadu except Tuticorin chank fishery as a free operational area for licensed chank divers from May 1971 onwards. Again, the government revised the policy and brought the chank fishery of the entire state as a government monopoly, from September 1977 onwards. Now-a-days, only netted chanks are collected in the district.

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Salt Industry Salt manufacture is one of the ancient industries mainly concentrated in Kanyakumari and areas. Salt is produced in salt pans into which there is a steady flow of backwaters. These pans are centred around Variyur, Palkulam and Thattarippu Odai on the east coast and the remaining factories in Rajakkamangalam and Colachel areas along the west coast. Oil Industry Extraction of oil from copra is an important cottage industry in the district. It has registered a spectacular growth over the years in places like Kottar, Vadasery, Eraniel, Puttukadai and Mylaudy. In addition to this, it is also procured from laurel, maruvettyam, illupa, gingelly, odai, pine, anjili, rubber seed, Karin jotta, margosa and lemon grass which also find a good market. Fish Net Industry Fish net making by manual techniques is an enterprising industry in the coastal areas of the district. There is a fish net industry at Varavilai near Muttom run by the Kottar social service league. Quite a few 127 religious organization also run these centers in different parts of the district, which benefit the fishermen families. A mechanized fish net (Nylon) making unit at also caters to the needs of the fishermen. Honey Processing The YMCA Rural Reconstruction Centre at Marthandam is engaged in bee-keeping. The honey produced enjoys a nation wide market. It is a seasonal industry which flourishes during April and May when rubber trees are in blossom. The annual production from a total of 50000 beehives has been estimated at 375 mts. Bricks and Tiles Industry: It is also an important and popular industry. One can see these units on either side of the road at Thovalai, Kandan vilai, , and Nulli vilai areas. It is also found here and there in other parts of the district. The bricks and tiles manufactured here are of a high quality. near Marthandam is noted for brick industry. Cashewnut Industry: Cashew nut processing is predominantly an export-oriented seasonal industry. The industry came into prominence only during the fifties and the number of cashew nut factories has since then been on the increase. The National Nut Company at Palugal, the Vijayalakshmi Cashew nut Industries and the Raju Vilas Roasting Plant both located at Palavilai are the main units in this district, while the rest are only small units. In Kanyakumari district nearly 400 cashew nut industries are located in Arumani, , Kalliaha vilai, Kadaisalamoodu, and other areas. Hear thousands of women workers are employed and are exported to other countries. In cashew processing more than 30000 workers are engaged in this private sector. Khadi and Village Industries: In Kanyakumari district, the khadi scheme was first implemented in September 1957 by establishing one khadi production centre and one khadi kraft sales depot at Nagercoil for marketing the khadi and village industries products of the district. With a view to promote and develop the khadi and village industries products in the state, the Tamil Nadu khadi and village industries board set up in April 1960. The board generates employment opportunities in rural areas by utilizing the raw materials available in the areas concerned which in turn help alleviate poverty. Village industries are developed through the units of the khadi and village industries board as well as through the industrial cooperative societies registered by the board.

CONCLUSION Thus it is evident that there is plenty of scope for the existing rural, cottage and small-scale industries. Further the environmental background of the district is such that many more such industries could be started in the years ahead. The pace of industrial development is quite encouraging in Kanyakumari District.

REFERENCES [1] Credit Plan for Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, Lead Bank Cell, Indian Overseas Bank, Madras, 1978, p.73 [2] Action Plan for 1997-98 to 2001-2002, DIC, Kanyakumari, pp.5-6. [3] District Statistical Hand Book 1999-2000, Kanyakumari District, pp.84-85. [4] Gopalakrishnan, M., Gazetteers of India, Tamil Nadu State, Kanyakumari District, Madras Printers Industrial Co- operative Society, Madras – 5, 1995, p.356. [5] Official Records of the District Industries Centre, Nagercoil.

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