DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS O/o The Deputy Director of Statistics, Tirunelveli - 7 Hand Book available at https://tenkasi.nic.in Dr. G.S.Sameeran., I.A.S, District Collector, Tenkasi . FOREWORD I am very happy to note that the Department of Economics and Statistics of Tirunelveli unit is publishing this Tenkasi District Statistical Handbook for the year 2019- 2020. The Need for a data bank with regard to this District is fulfilled by means of publishing this book which provides extensive information and various data about Tenkasi District. The Handbook contains various details on population, literacy rate, classification of workers based on 2011 Census, Climate and Rainfall, Agriculture, Irrigation, Animal Husbandry, Communication, Civil Supplies, Electricity, Education, Health & Family Welfare, Housing, Industries, Mining & Quarrying, Prices, Social Welfare etc., will be very much useful for the Research scholars, Students, Philosophers, Policy and Decision makers. I express my warm wishes and appreciation for the efforts taken by the Deputy Director of Statistics, Tirunelveli and team of officials of the Department of Economics and Statistics, Tirunelveli and also co-operation extended by the other department officials to bring out the Hand Book in a successful manner. Best wishes Tenkasi Dated: District Collector Mrs.S.Suriyakala, B.Sc, Deputy Director of Statistics Tirunelveli-7 PREFACE The District Statistical Handbook of Tenkasi District for the year 2019-2020 is the First issue in the series, covering multi various data relating to wide range of subjects which are useful to all sections of people in the current scenario. The publication envisages brief picture of Demography, Socio Economic conditions and Developmental activities of the District in terms of statistical tables and graphical representations. The book contains data covering the financial year, fasli year, academic year and calendar year. The Co-operation and guidelines extended by the District Collector, Dr.G.S.Sameeran, I.A.S., are very much acknowledged with high gratitude. The Valuable guidelines and suggestions issued by our Regional Joint Director of Statistics, Tirunelveli, Dr.B.Hariharadhas, M.Sc.,M.Phil.,Ph.D., is highly useful to launch the Handbook successfully. The contribution towards the publication of the District Handbook by the Assistant Director of Statistics, Tenkasi Thiru.C.Subbiah,M.A., B.Ed., Statistical Officer Thiru.M.Sankar, M.A., Block Statistical Inspector’s Thiru.S.Radhakrishnan, B.Sc., Thiru.J.Samsudeen, M.Sc., M.Phil., Tmt.M.Anees Fathima, M.Sc., M.Phil., Selvi.N.Sathyasivagami, M.A., M.Phil., Statistical Inspector’s Thiru.C.Ganesan, M.A., M.Phil., Thiru.M.Maria Adaickalam, M.Sc., M.Phil.,Ph.D., Assistant Statistical Investigator Tmt.M.Sindu, M.Sc., Ph.D., the Data Coordinators Tmt.G.Jayasree, B.A., and Tmt.N.Chitra, M.Sc., B.Ed., are highly appreciated in collection, compilation and publication. The kind co-operation extended by the various department officials both Central and State Government, Public sector undertakings and other Organizations is also acknowledged with profound grateful. I hope that the District Statistical Handbook will be more useful to Administrators, Planners, Policy makers, Students, Philosophers and Research Scholars. I would be thankful for Constructive criticism of the publication and valid suggestions for the improvement of the ensuing publication. I humbly request the other departments to extends their full co-operation, collaboration and co-ordination with the Department of Economics and Statistics in forth coming publications. Thanking you Deputy Director of Statistics Tirunelveli. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE DISTRICT INDRODUCTION Tenkasi district was formed on 21.12.2019 vide. G.O.(ms) No.476, dated 21.12.2019 of Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Revenue Adminstration wing [RAI (1)] section, by bifurcating from Tirunelveli District. Tenkasi is it‟s headquarter which is the largest Municipality in the area of Tenkasi District. Tenkasi is famous spiritual place equivalent to North Indian Kasi. Kasi Viswanathar Temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, which is constructed in the Diravidian style of architecture and was built by the Pandyan ruler Parakkirrama Pandian during the 13th Century. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION The Geographical area of the district is 2882.44 sq.kms which lay in the south western portion of Tamil Nadu. It lies in between 8º.57' and 8º.95' of the Northern latitude and 77º.18' and 77º.31' of Eastern longitude. TOPOGRAPHY The district is located in the south western part of Tamil Nadu, surrounded by Virudhunagar district in the north, Western Ghats and Kerala in the west, the South East is covered by Tirunelveli district and North East by Thoothukudi district. Chitharu, Gundaru, Karuppanathi, Gadana, Ramanathi and Hanuman nathi are main source of irrigation for Agriculture and Allied activities. ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP The district has two revenue divisions viz Tenkasi and Sankarankovil and 8 Taluks, 30 firkas 246 revenue villages, 10 Development blocks, 5 Municipalities 18 Town Panchayats and 221 Village Panchayats as per G.O.(ms) No.426 Revenue and Disaster Management Department, dated: 12.11.2019 DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS i The Population of the district was 1440795 as per 2011 census. The density of population per sq.km was 500 persons in the 2011 census. The sex ratio is 1017 females for every 1000 males. The literacy rate is 78% in the district as per 2011 census. Out of total population, males were 714215 and females were 726580 as per 2011 census. The schedule caste population is 292900 which represent 20% to the total population as per 2011 census. Schedule tribes are found to be very small in numbers of 3656 which is 0.3% to the total population. AGRICULTURE Agriculture is playing a very crucial role in the district economy. The gross cropped area for the year 2019-20 was 124460 hectares which covers about 43.18% of the total geographical area. Out of which 74675 hectares were irrigated and 49785 were unirrigated. Around 60% of the total cropped was irrigated and 40% of the total cropped area was unirrigated. The net area shown to total cropped area was 112764 hectares which is about 91% of gross cropped area, 11687 hectares were shown as more than once. Paddy is cultivated as major crop in the district and 39403 hectares were cultivated during 2019-20 which cover about 32% of the gross cropped area and followed by Pulses 31,100 hectares were showed. Coconut, Cashewnut, Mango, Maize and Cotton are other principal crops. Lemon Cultivation is famous in Puliyangudi, popularly known as “Lemon City”. The total food crops were cultivated in 105234 hectares out of the total cropped area of 124460 hectares which is around 85%. This covers 85% of the total cropped area. Non-food crops were cultivated in 19228 hectares which is around 15%. MARKETING Tenkasi, Surandai, Pavoorchatram, Alangulam, Puliyangudi and Sankarankovil are having many markets for agricultural produce. Puliyangudi market is very famous for Lemon and exporting Lemon to various states and International level. Puliyangudi city is called as „Lemon City‟ for its famous quality due to natural climate and favourable soil for Lemon cultivation. Sankarankovil market is very famous for Millets, Pulses, Cotton, Groundnut and ii Chillies. Many commission mandies are functioning in Sankarankovil, Surandai, Pavoorchatram and Puliyangudi for agricultural commodities. INDUSTRIES Agriculture is the predominant role in the district. Apart from agriculture many other industries are functioning in the district. Such as Modern Rice mills and Oil mills particularly in Keelapavoor and Alangulam blocks are a hup for both boiled and raw rices and marketing in TamilNadu and Kerala. Beedi rolling, handloom, power loom, Match factories, Brick kiln, Sugar mill, Wind mill, Solar energy, Cattle rearing, Poultry farming, Mining & Quarrying, Weaving and sizing industries, Plastic molding industries, Spinning mills, Furniture manufacturing industries and Jaggary production are other important tiny and small scale industries which are providing more employment opportunities and earnings as subsidiary income to the people of this district. IRRIGATION The district is blessed with Western Ghats from which all the rivers viz, Chitharu, Hanuman Nathi, Ramanathi and Karuppanathi flows from west to east. Gundaru, Adavinainar, Karuppanathi, Gadana, Ramanathi are the main source of irrigation dams and also for drinking purpose. The other sources of irrigation are wells, tanks and canals which cover the gross and net cultivated area of 74675 and 63403 hectares. Among total Well irrigation the gross and net irrigated area covers 48415 and 40343 hectares which cover about 64%. Tanks and Canals covered by 20792 and 5468 hectares during 2019-20 as gross and net cultivated area. TORUIST ATTRACTIONS Courtallam is situated in the Western Ghats in Tenkasi Taluk. The famous waterfalls on rocks and tiny droplets are sprinkled in the air. The water falls of Courtallam have medicinal value as they run through forest and herbs before their decent. The Courtallam falls is called as “Spa” of South India and attracts all over Indians to Courtallam and Tenkasi. iii Gundar, Adavinainar and Karuppanathi dams are the tourist places which are located at the foothills of Western Ghats. RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE The Kasi Viswanathar temple at Tenkasi, Dhackshinamoorthy temple at Puliarai, Thirumalai kovil temple at Panpoli, Sankaranainar temple at Sankarankovil,