MADURAI DISTRICT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY DISTRICT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT DISTRICT

Introduction

 is situated in the Southern most part of State.  Madurai district is the second largest in populous district of the state of Tamil Nadu. The city of Madurai serves as the district headquarters and houses the world famous Sri temple and is situated on the banks of river Vaigai. Geography  Madurai district was bifurcated into Madurai and Theni districts in 1996 and retained Madurai as its head quarters.  The district lies between 77000" and 78030" of the eastern longitude and between 9030" and 10030" of the northern latitude.  It has an area of 3741.73 Sq. Km and is bounded on the west by , on the north by , on the east by Sivagangai district and on the south by .  The district has got 2 revenue divisions, 6 municipalities, 11 blocks and 7 taluks respectively. The district is endowed with a semi arid tropical climate with normal rainfall

1 of 827.1 mm as against 923.1 mm for the state. Topography

 The prominent geomorphic units in the district are structural and denudated land forms such as structural and denudational hills, residual wells, linear ridges, uplands and barred pediments.  The district is predominantly by crystalline formations and alluvium is found along the courses of the river.  Ground water occurs under phreatic conditions in weathered residuum and interconnected shallow fractures and under semi-confined to confined conditions in deeper fractures.  The depth of weathering varies from 20-25m bgl in , and Kottampatti area, while it varies from 30 to 40 m bgl in remaining parts of the district. Soil Condition:  The district is characterised by Red soil, Black clayey soil and alluvial soil. Red soil is found in all the blocks of the district while black clayey soil is found in Tirumangalam, Usilampatti and blocks of the district and alluvial soil is found along the courses of the river.  The predominant soil type is red soil. This type of soil is found common in Madurai,

2 , Thirumangalam, Usilampatti and blocks with a combination of red soil and black soil.  The soil type in central Madurai is predominantly clay loam, while red loam and black cotton types are widely prevalent in the outer fringes of the city.  The land in and around Madurai is utilized largely for agricultural activity, which is fostered by the Periyar Dam.  Madurai lies in the southeast of the Western Ghats, and the surrounding region occupies the plains of South and contains several mountain spurs. Climate  Rainfall is irregular and intermittent, with an average of approximately 85 cm per annum.  The wind blows from Northeast direction during January–February, and from Southwest direction during May to July. Madurai is hot and dry for eight months of the year. The hottest months are from March to July.  The city experiences a moderate climate from August to October, tempered by heavy rain and thundershowers, and a cool climate from November to February. Fog and dew are rare, occurring only during the winter season.  Being equidistant from mountains and the sea, it experiences similar monsoon pattern

3 with North east monsoon and Southwest monsoon with the former providing more rain during October to December.  Temperatures during summer generally reach a maximum of 40°C and a minimum of 26.3 °C, although temperatures up to 42°C are not uncommon.  Winter temperatures range between 29.6 °C and 18 °C. A study based on the data available with the Indian Meteorological Department on Madurai over a period of 62 years indicate a rising trend in atmospheric temperature over Madurai city, attributed to urbanization, growth of vehicles and industrial activity.  The maximum temperature of 42 °C for the decade of 2001 – 2010 was recorded in 2004 and in 2010. Human Development Status  The HDI has been computed for 14 blocks in the district. As per the 11 indicators given, the HDI value varies from 0.30 to 0.97 among the blocks.  Corporation, as it is urban in characteristics took the top position while Kottampati was placed at the bottom. Kottampatti, T.Kallupati and ranks very low in Human development index.  Standard of living, Health and Education parameters needs to be improved in these blocks.

4  GII helps to measure and compare the stages of gender development. The GII ranges from 0.06 to 0.19.  As far as Health, Empowerment and Labor were considered among the 14 blocks, Madurai West ranked first among the top 3 blocks.  The other blocks which were better in GII were T.Kallupatti, T.Vadipatti and Corporation. The major concern was that high MMR existed in GII more blocks such as Alanganallur, Kallikudi, Thirumangalam and Sedapatti.  Child Development Index (CDI) is an index combining performance measures specific to child–education, health and nutrition.  In the district, Corporation, Madurai West and T.Vadipatti with urban characteristics obtained the first three positions in Child development index.  CDI performance was found to be low in Chellampatti(0.37), Kottampatti(0.41) and Sedapatti(0.45), lacking in terms of health and education. There was large disparity among the blocks where the value ranges from 0.91 to 0.37.  The Multidimensional Poverty Index(MPI) was a new measure designed to capture the severe deprivation that people face at the same time.

5  Thirupurankundram Corporation and Thirumangalam show better performance in terms of MPI. Kottampatti which is backward in two indices such as HDI and MPI is in worse situation. Employment, Income and Poverty

 Increased urbanization in Madurai which was earlier an agriculture and rural based district has caused a shift from the primary to the secondary sector and the tertiary sector. Textile, construction, real estate and housing and increasingly services sector was increasing and close to State average.  The per capita income of Madurai had shown a growth rate average of 10.09 percent between 2005 and 2012. The Per capita income of Madurai district was Rs. 67258 at constant prices in 2011-12 which is higher than the State per capita income of Rs. 63996 at constant price.  Growth in employment in primary sector was negative in recent years while in the secondary and the tertiary sector, growth was positive and relatively high.  As far as WPR was considered, there was an increase in total workers of the district due to the increasing trend of urbanisation, but in rural areas in certain blocks, female WPR was reduced.  The income originated from manufacturing sector had increased from 160700 lakhs to 276121 lakhs from 2005 to 2012.

6  But the other subgroup electricity and water supply showed a negative growth while the construction sector showed an increasing trend from 91777 lakh to 163572 lakh.  The blocks like Alanganallur, Kallikudi, Kottampatti, Sedapatti, T.Kallupatti and T.Vadipati with larger proportion of social groups had a high incidence of poverty.  They were rural based and agriculture based blocks. Cucumber, cotton and pulse growers were more in the Kallikudi, T.Kallupatti block where feasibility of marketing have to be ensured and regulated markets need to be activated effectively to benefit the marginal farmers.  The range of poverty among the blocks is from 19.58 percent to 42.50 percent.  Totally 408484 ration cards are provided in the district, among which Kallikudi holds the higher number of family cards and least is in Usilampatti where 25531 cards have been issued. Demography, Health and Nutrition

 There was an increase in population in all the blocks and the decadal population growth rate of the district was 17.84% in 2011.  The decadal growth rate among the blocks showed that there was higher growth rate in Madurai west, followed by Thirupurankundram which was recently included within the

7 corporation limit. This increase in growth rate may be due to employment opportunities and urban context prevailing in the particular block.  As per the census 2011, the district has the total population of 3,038,252. The decadal population growth of the district is 17.84., however, population growth rate in rural/ urban context clearly exhibits the current trend in urbanization in the district.  In urban area, the growth rate was 27.88 which was more than the rural area - 5.06.  The crude birth rate had decreased in Madurai district when compared to 17.1 percent of 2010, to 15.3 in 2014. In these three years, around 8 blocks maintained the same birth rate of 15 to 17.6, but fewer blocks like Corporation, T.Kallupatti, Kottampatti and Kallikudi have reduced their birth rate with lower percentage of variation.  There was a slight increase in CDR in 6 blocks of the district where concrete efforts were taken by the district administration and health department to bring down the death rate of the blocks.  The sex ratio for Madurai had increased from 978 in 2001 to 990 in 2011.  Although the overall sex ratio had increased by 12 points in the district (978 in 2001 to 990 in 2011), child sex ratio increased only by 6 points (926 to 932).

8  Overall life expectancy for male (65.4) and female (68.9) has increased from 2001 to 2014 for the district.  However, the life expectancy at birth of Madurai district was low when compared with the state.  IMR rate at district level was 20.81 in 2011 and in 2013-14 it had reduced to 16.13.  There was a significant reduction in IMR in the year 2013-14 when compared to 2010 in all the blocks especially Melur (23.4 to 17.34), Thirumangalam (33.8 to 23.36), Usilampatti (30.6 to 18.93).  MMR in Madurai was 120 one of the highest among the districts in Tamil Nadu. On comparing data of 5 years, at the district level, it has reduced but when compared to the State (68) it was still high.  The overall still birth rate of Madurai was found to be 13.4 in 2011 which has been raised 13.88 with slight variation in 2013-14. This rate has been declining across the blocks and certain block found to have higher rates of SBR.  The district should improve focus on malnutrition for children and mothers. Efforts to reduce anaemia needs to be taken, especially focus on awareness and health campaigns to be conducted in rural areas.  The percentages of underweight children are more in Madurai East (28.7), Melur(25.87),

9 Usilampatti(22.53) and Chellampatti(20.12). Madurai west and Corporation show better standard than the other blocks. The concentration of malnourished children is very high in rural areas than in urban areas.  As per the data, about 100% of children were immunized in all the blocks, except Usilampatti (93.6) in Madurai district.  District administration has taken considerable efforts to improve institutional delivery. Sedapatti, Kallikudi, T.Vadipatti and T.Kallupatti which was also identified as backward blocks were availing government hospitals for deliveries. This shows that public awareness was there in using health services.  Kottampatti was an area of concern for officials on health aspects because three children or more had become the trend for families here, putting it among the 14 blocks identified as falling under the Higher Order of Birth(HOB) category.  The level of achievement with respect to the habitations covered by water supply have covered 100% coverage, but in 2012-13 the situation changed particularly in Kallikudi (88%), Chellampatti (73%) and T.Kallupatti (80%) had less access than the other blocks. But in 2013-14, the situations had improved due to district administrations effort and now availability of drinking water is there in almost all the blocks.

10  Toilet facilities are available only to 52.16 percent of households in Madurai, which shows the vulnerability of the problem and also the impact of the same on the community.  In 2011, the total number of cases identified in Madurai district was 1217 and in 2012 it declined to 1047. Literacy and Education  According to 2011 census, the literacy rate of Madurai district was 83.45. The district literacy rate is higher than that of the state literacy average of 80.1 percent. The literacy rate of Madurai had increased to 83.45 in 2011 from 77.82 in 2001. Among the males, 89.72 were literates and among the females the rate was 77.16 percent. The female literacy rate had increased from 69.35 in 2001 to 77.16 in 2011.  The decadal growth rate between the block shows that Alanganallur had the highest growth rate (14.22) followed by Kottampatti (14.07), Kallikudi (11.45) and Melur (10.13).  Female literacy is very low in Chellampatti, Sedapatti, Kallikudi, Kottampatti and T.Kallupatti where female literacy ranges between 50 to 65% and this needs to be focused.  The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in the district as a whole in primary section was 99.32 percent in 2012-2013 with blocks

11 performing in the range of 99.05 to 99.71 per cent.  The dropout rate for the district at primary level was 0.73 percent in the year 2012-13. Sedapatti (2.11 per cent) and T. Kallupatti (1.11 percent) had more dropout than the other blocks.  Gross enrollment status of upper primary education in the district shows 102.8 percent. Girl enrolment in 5 blocks falls more than 100 percent and the rest of the blocks lie in the higher range of 80 and 96 percent.  The dropout rate in Upper primary education in 2013-14 was 1.37 per cent with the total children, being 1.34 per cent for girls and the boys’ 1.41 per cent.  In Madurai, Pupil-teacher ratio for the primary level was 1: 25 for primary and for upper primary schools were 1:27. It shows positive trend.  As far as the district was considered, the backward blocks Kallikudi, Sedapatti, T.Kallupatti which was already backward in education has a lower percentage of enrolment in secondary education which needs to be focused by enhancing transport facilities and building infrastructure which provides basic amenities.  In Madurai district, the overall dropout percentage in secondary education was 7.77 percent. Girls (8.15%) was more when compared to that of boys (7.40%) percentage.

12  Dropout in secondary education was found to be more in Usilampatti(7.16%), Kottampatti,(7.02%), T.Vadipatti(6.18%) and Sedapatti(6.13%).  In and around Madurai city, there are 30 Arts and Science colleges. These include 17 government aided, autonomous and 10 self- financed colleges. Madurai Kamaraj University, which has 109 arts and science colleges under its umbrella, is located in Madurai city. There are seven engineering colleges in Madurai. Gender

 Gender chapter tries to look into the inequity between females and males in education, health, employment and empowerment.  In Madurai district, on literacy and education, there is improvement in their status.  As per 2011 census, there were 982 females per 1000 males. Madurai stands above the national average, but it stands below the State average of 996. As far as the child sex ratio was considered according to 2011 census, 932 girl children were there with 1000 male children.  Regarding female literacy, district had performed well and there was an increase in growth rate when compared to male literacy.  Out of the total population of women, 77.16 percent of them are literate as per 2011

13 census. The growth rate of literacy comparatively increased than men, which shows a positive pattern of growth in women’s education. The increase in Female Literacy rate is 8 points, while in the case of males; the increase is to the tune of 3 points only.  In Madurai district, 9121 SHGs are functioning with a total membership of 120710 with the assistance of the organization in 2012-13.  In the blocks percentage of women involved in politics are almost 34.83 percentages, Women participation in politics shows better percentage in all the blocks. This shows that the status of women has improved in development aspects. Social Security  The elderly population shows an increasing trend as the Census 2011 and was 10.7% of the total population of the district.  It would increase the burden of the district administration to ensure the reach of welfare programmes to the growing elderly population. Pensions are provided to five target categories of varying age-groups, namely old age people (normal), deserted wives, destitute widows, and destitute physically handicapped and destitute agricultural labourers.  In the year 2013-14, around 8682 members were benefitted through various schemes (37

14 schemes) under disability, where Rs. 10 crore were spent for their development. Among them 3897 members were mentally retarded who received scholarship about Rs.4 crores. 1332 members are benefitted through free bus pass around 56 lakhs were spent.  The issues pertaining to cruelty by husband, child marriages, abandoning of old age people, rape cases and domestic violence need greater efforts to address them and prevent them.  The district record showed that there were 96 cases against kidnapping and abduction, and 284 cases on husband’s cruelty.  Maternity and marriage assistance schemes are successfully implemented in the district to prevent the child marriages which indirectly encourage girlchild’s education. Infrastructure

 Madurai is well connected to all the cities and also with the intra-city transportation.  On the aspect of infrastructure, the district has fared well in the case of roads, electrification of villages and transport facilities.  The total road length in the district is 3173.75 kms. Among the various types of roads, Bituminous Tar roads were higher (2029.58 Kms, 64 percent), followed by mud roads (514.62 kms, 16 percent). The status of

15 saralai road length is lower (229.64 kms, 7.2 percent) followed by WBM II road (269.99 kms, 8.51 percent) and WBM III road(25.71 kms,0.81%). Across the block, road length shows disparity.

 Road infrastructure in the rural blocks (especially backward blocks) of the district needs to be improved.

 There are variations across the blocks, for which reasons can be identified and based on the need, interventions can be taken up. In very remote villages of the block, especially, Kallikudi, T.Kallupatti, Sedapatti road infrastructure has to be improved.

 The population covered for electrification is high in Thirupurankundram about 169335 and low in Chellampatti about 15369.

 The district data of 2013-14 shows that there are 68,598 landline connections and 2521 PCOs in the district. For mobile services, 245 phone towers are situated in the district.

 The data on members served per commercial bank branch showed that the lowest number of persons were served in the block of Kallikudi (24373).

 Urban has the highest number (86) of co- operative societies, next comes Melur (26)

16 followed by Thirumangalam (24) and Thirupurankundaram (24).  Almost all the blocks had the branches of Commercial banks, Thirupurankundram (19), Melur (16) and Sedapatti (10) had the highest number; comparatively urban had 195 more number of banks. Considerable numbers of account holders are there in each block. had the highest number of account holders when compared to the total population of 1,77,059 then comes Thirumangalam which had 1,56,232 of the total population and had 1,45,312 account holders.

 There were 44 branches of LIC and 9 branches of United India Insurance covering policies.

 There were 12,754 registered three-wheeled vehicles called auto rickshaws, which were commercially available for renting within the city. In addition to the government operated city buses that are used for public transport, there were 236 registered private mini buses that support local transportation.

 Madurai railway junction is one of the important and major junctions of south Tamil Nadu, which connects majority of the southern districts to the city. It is the second

17 largest by revenue in southern railway, and from here direct trains are there from Madurai connecting important cities in India.  The Vaigai is 258 kilometers long, with a drainage basin 7,031 square kilometers large. The main tributaries of the river Vaigai are, the river Suruliyaru, the river Mullaiyaaru, the river Varaganadi, the river Manjalaru and river Kridhumaal.  As far as Corporation is considered, slum areas have to be focused and number of water connections need to be sanctioned to households, almost in all the slums, tiled road have been constructed which makes easier transportation.  Efforts for penetration of banking service and insurance have to be taken in improving the status.  Demand for parking place for vehicles have been increased due to tourist movement and cargo movers. Conclusion:  Inter-block disparities in human development can be mitigated to a large extent only if resources are allocated keeping in view the extent of deprivation in blocks.  Economic development policies need to be integrated with human development objectives so that disparity can be reduced.

18  A comprehensive programme should take care of the following aspects: increased life expectancy through prenatal care for expectant mothers, creation of awareness against female infanticide, increasing educational attainment levels through higher female literacy, educating mothers about the benefits of sending the girl children to school, and increasing female income so as to narrow the wage differential between males and females.



19 20