(Final Report) EVALUATION STUDY ON ECONOMIC BACKWARDNESS IN DHARMAPURI DISTRICT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LITERACY Submitted to State Planning Commission Government of Tamil Nadu October 2014 Prepared by PRIA Foundation for Research and Development Chennai 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abbreviations List of Tables Executive Summary Section 1 . Objective, Scope and Methodology of the study Section 2 : State Policies on Backwardness –An overview Section 3 .Aspects of Backwardness in Dharmapuri District 3.1 District profile 3.2 Aspects of Backwardness –A Block level analysis Section 4 .Evaluation of Economic Backwardness and Literacy: Findings from the Field Survey Section 5 : Summary, Conclusions and Policy recommendations References Appendix 2 Abbreviations AAY Antyodaya Anna Yojana APL Above Poverty Line BC Backward Community BPL Below Poverty Line CSR Child Sex Ratio FGD Focus Group Discussions HDI Human Development Index HHs Household(s) GoTN Government of Tamilnadu ICDS Integrated Child Development Scheme ICPS Integrated Child Protection Scheme IE Indian Express IMR Infant Mortality Rate NCLP National Child Labour Project MGNREGA Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MIDS Madras Institute of Development Studies MBC Most Backward Community OC Other Community OSC Out of School Children PG Post Graduate PDS Public Distribution System SSA Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan SBGF State Balanced Growth Fund SPSS Statistical Package for Social Sciences SC Schedule Caste ST Schedule Tribes UG Under Graduate UNICEF United Nations Children’s Education Fund 3 List of Tables Table 1.1 List of Indicators considered Table 1.2 Ranking of Backward Blocks in Dharmapuri district based on Composite Backwardness Index Table 3.1 Details about Backwardness Indicators and their relative position across different blocks in Dharmapuri district Table 4.1 Distribution of sample households by Caste/Community Table 4.2 Family size and Sex Ratio by Caste Table 4.3 Level of Education Across Blocks in the District Table 4.4 Distribution of households by Size of Land Holding Table 4.5 Distribution of households based on migration Table 4.6 Places of Migration of HHs Table 4.7 Occupational Distribution of Households members Table 4.8 Distribution of Households by average annual income Table4. 9 Distribution of Assets Values of the household by Community Table 4.10 Indebtedness of the households by community Table 4.11 Purpose of loan borrowed Table 4.12 Distribution of households having ration cards Table 4.13 Distribution of households by different sources of drinking water Table 4.14 Availability of Sanitation facilities by Community Table 4.15 Linkage between education and occupation -perception of respondents Table 4.16 Linkage between education and the overall socio-economic development Table 4.17 Households having school children at present Table 4.18 Interests of Respondents for sending children for higher studies Table 4.19 Inter-relation between level of education and socio economic conditions of the of households 4 Executive Summary Dharmapuri is ranked as one of the most backward districts in the state in many development aspects including literacy .The study is meant to evaluate the factors associated with the socio economic backwardness in the district with focus on literacy. The study is undertaken at the block / village level to capture variations in the backwardness and factors associated with it which are important for local level planning and development interventions. Initially we have undertaken an analysis of backwardness at the block level based on secondary data by using a set of fourteen socio-economic indicators. These indicators are Sex Ratio, Workforce in agriculture, Poverty (BPL), Irrigation, Literacy, School Drop Outs, IMR, Water supply and Sanitation, etc. The analysis has helped to identify most backward blocks based on Composite Backwardness Index by taking all these indicators together. In the following we summarise the findings of the study and recommendations for interventions. The study shows that two blocks (Pappireddipatti and Harur) are most backward in the district based on a set of fourteen indicators. Hence these two blocks which are identified as most backward based on a number of socio-economic aspects need specialised development attention in the district. This can be taken up under the State Balanced Growth Fund (SBGF) programme of the State Planning Commission. Apart from these two most backward blocks, other blocks also require special attention in many aspects which lack development. Improvement of sex ratio is required on priority basis in three blocks namely Pennagaram, Nallampalli and Palacode. Baby Cradle scheme, ICDS, and Campaigns for prevention of child marriages through massive awareness programmes are to be strengthened in these blocks. Literacy and school education are other important indicators which need more attention. Special schemes meant for out of school children (OSC) should be taken up in Pennagram, Nallampalli, Palacode and Morappur blocks which are identified as most backward in literacy and school education. These blocks are also identified as areas of child labour and migration. Hence special schemes to address both education and child labour along with employment opportunities for addressing migration issue can be considered under SBGF programme. Declining agrarian economy is a major issue in the district which should be taken up with utmost priority. Increasing the percentage of irrigated area through new irrigation schemes, undertaking innovative watershed projects for improvement of rainfed areas, soil and water conservation, diversification of agriculture etc are recommend to rejuvenate the agriculture in the district. Climate change related 5 measures are also to be considered on pilot basis in areas like Harur and Pennagaram blocks, as most part of these blocks are un-irrigated and hence prone to drought - the intensity and frequency of which is likely to increase due to climate change. Provision of gainful employment to agricultural labourers is another important aspect of intervention required. Most of them now migrate to other places as there is not adequate employment opportunity in the district. Employment schemes like MGNREGA require further strengthening which can be also used for improving soil and water conservation and agriculture in the district. About 28 per cent of the households do not have ration cards mainly due to migration .Hence special effort can be taken up to issue ration cards to these households. As non- institutional agencies (such as money lenders, finance companies) constitute the main source of borrowing for a majority of households (73 %) strengthening of institutional credit agencies is extremely important. Existing credit programmes like District LEAD Bank Scheme, Regional Rural Banks, Cooperatives, etc. should be further revitalised especially to help agriculture sector. In this context, the recommendations of Vaidyanathan Committee on Rural Credit are important for implementation. New innovative credit schemes through Self Help Groups can be thought of to help small business people to increase non-farm employment. Though majority of households are reported to have safe drinking water, the problem is not fully addressed as there are seasonal variations in the available water supply and also quality issues like salinity in some pockets. These issues can be addressed by strengthening the existing schemes like Hogenakkal Water Supply Scheme, etc. Sanitation is another important problem in the district as majority of the population do not have individual toilets. In the two blocks (Harur and Pappireddipatti) identified as most backward blocks in the district, sanitation is quite poor as vast majority of them still use open defecation. Existing schemes like Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) etc should be appropriately used for this purpose. Convergence of various development programmes under SBGF can be planned to address the backwardness problem of the district effectively. For this purpose, Block Level Plans can be prepared with active participation of all stakeholders by focussing on specific backwardness issues identified in the study .The SBGF programme provides good opportunities for preparation of such plans and their implementation at the local level. 6 Evaluation Study on Economic Backwardness in Dharmapuri District with Special reference to Literacy Section 1-Objective, Scope and Methodology of the study Introduction Tamil Nadu is one of the relatively more developed states in India. However, there are significant regional differences within the state in respect of human development as well as that of the overall economy. The 11th plan (2007-12) has drawn attention to some of these differences among districts .1Out of 32 districts, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai, Perambalur were rated as the most backward districts based on Human Development Index (HDI).The 12 th plan (2012-17) has paid more attention on this at the block level within the districts and has started a special programme viz State Balanced Growth Fund to address the regional imbalances and backwardness in human development and gender parameters. 2. There are many indicators which form part of Human Development and literacy is one of the important indicators. According to Census 2011, Dharmapuri is ranked as the lowest in terms of literacy rate in the state. While the state average literacy rate is 80.33 percent , Dharmapuri achieved only 64.71 percent .This