Area and People
Location
The Vanur Block is one of 22 blocks in the
Villupuram-Ramasamy-Padiyachar District in Tamil Nadu, south. This
block, located along the Coromandel Coast, covers 45,000 square
kilometres. The Vanur Block is an approximately contiguous watershed;
and this 'bioregion' can be defined by the large marsh, Kaluveli Tank,
to the north; the Bay of Bengal to the east; Pondicherry City to the
south; and Ousteyri Lake to the west.
Reserved constituency
At the last census in 1991 the population of the
Vanur Block counted approximately 154,000 individuals in 30,700
households. Around 30% of these are classified as backward and
disadvantaged. The entire block is a 'reserved constituency' from which
only Dalit(i.e. untouchable) people can be elected to the state
legislature.
Figures
The block contains 64 village Panchayats,
including 107 'revenue villages'. Most of these 'revenue villages'
consist of one main village plus one or two attached hamlets of Dalits.
Only 44% (67,000) of the block population are
literate, and only 42% (64,000) are employed. The Vanur Block contains
98 public schools, but has no colleges, universities, or schools for
vocational training. The block contains three public health centres and
29 health subcentres. The public water utilities of the Vanur Block
include 65 tanks/ponds, and a borewell cum overhead tank in most revenue
villages.
Occupations
The majority of people in the Vanur Block are
engaged in agriculture, as small landholders and labourers. Major crops
are cashew, casuarina, sugar cane, rice, flowers, and cattle. Fishing,
fish vending, shrimp farming, salt and lime production are the prevalent
employment along the coast.
Approximately 20% of the population is employed as potters, truckers,
carpenters, masons, electricians, and small retail businesses. Recently,
a significant number of young people have been moving to urban centres,
industries, and a large university, for employment, primarily in
construction trades.
Social structure
The traditional social structure of the Vanur
Block villages is based on male clan leaders. The movement of people to
the cities and the introduction of elected leaders on the Panchayat
system have undermined this structure. The Government of India's 'Panchayati
Raj' Act grants more power to the local governing bodies, and stipulates
the inclusion of women and other previously excluded sections of
society, such as Dalits.
Presently, traditional leaders look after the temple festivals and the
elected leaders allocate local budgets.
Block Data
Vanur is one of 22 blocks in Villupuram District,
which is one of 29 districts in Tamil Nadu. Villupuram District is
7,12,235 sq.km and divided into three Divisions. Auroville is in the
Tindivanam Division (the other two divisions are Tirukoilur and
Kalakuruchi). In the Tindivanam Division there are 7 blocks, of which
Vanur is one (the others are Mailam, Melmaruvatur, Marakkanam, Vallam,
Gingee, Olakkur).
'Our' block consists of 107 villages, under 64
village Panchayats, and one town Panchayat (Kottakuppam).
Total population: 1,53,544 (as of census 1991); SC: 48,073 (one third of
the total pop) ST 1345 (Kilianur); non-ST/SC 1,04,126.
Total households: 30,196
Tamil Nadu population growth rate: 1.43% (second lowest only to Kerala
at 1.23%)
Other indicators
Existing government handpumps: 234
Existing rainwater catchment ponds: 65
Primary schools: 98
Noon meal centres: 103
Primary health centres: 3
Health sub-centres: 29
Population of Pondicherry: (as of 1991) 6,08,336,
in and area of 293 sq.km.(not including Karaikkal, Yanam, Mahe).
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