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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
The
name ‘Thiruvananthapuram’ means the abode of the sacred
snake-god Ananthan, on whom Vishnu, the God of Preservation,
is believed to be reclining. The old name Trivandrum is
the anglicized form of the word, Thiruvananthapuram.
|
District |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Area
(in Sq.km) |
2,192 |
Population
|
32,34,356 |
Males
|
15,69,917 |
Females
|
16,64,439 |
Sex
ratio : Females/1000 |
1,060 |
Density
of Population |
1476 |
Per
Capita Income (in Rs) |
27,686 |
Literacy
rate |
89.36%;
Male 92.68%; Female 86.26% |
Coastal
line in km. |
78 |
Water
bodied area in ha. |
5,525 |
Forest
area in ha. |
49861 |
Assembly
Constituencies |
1.
Varkala
2. Attingal
3. Kilimanoor
4. Vamanapuram
5. Aryanad
6. Nedumangadu
7. Kazhakuttam
8. Thiruvananthapuram North
9. Thiruvananthapuram West
10. Thiruvananthapuram East
11. Nemam
12. Kovalam
13. Neyyattinkara
14. Parassala |
Taluks |
Head
Quarters |
No.
of Villages |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Thiruvananthapuram |
31 |
Nedumangadu |
Nedumangadu |
28 |
Neyyattinkara |
Neyyattinkara |
29 |
Chirayinkeezhu |
Attingal |
28 |
Weather |
Monthly
rainfall (m.m) |
Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Rainfall |
21.6 |
18.9 |
49.9 |
131.6 |
231.7 |
359.0 |
267.6 |
175.7 |
157.4 |
264.0 |
196.3 |
69.1 |
Source
: Economic Review,2003 |
Livestock
Population (2000 Census) |
Cattle |
Buffaloes |
Goats |
Sheep |
Pigs |
183458 |
6138 |
191852 |
6 |
1866 |
Major
Agricultural Products |
Products |
Area
under cultivation (ha.) |
Production
in tonne |
Rice |
6423 |
14119 |
Pepper |
6569 |
1790 |
Ginger |
106 |
282(Cured) |
Cashewnut |
2349 |
1097 |
Tapioca |
23922 |
392510 |
Coconut |
87118 |
606 |
Arecanut |
1216 |
520
Million |
Tea |
966 |
336 |
Rubber |
28415 |
34206 |
(Source
: Agricultural Statistics 2002-2003) |
Local
Self Government |
District
Panchayats |
1 |
Block
Panchayats |
12 |
Grama
Panchayats |
78 |
Corporation |
1 |
Muncipalities |
4 |
Educational
Institutions |
Schools
|
Schools |
Govt. |
Private
Aided |
Private
Unaided |
Total |
L
P School |
302 |
181 |
14 |
497 |
U
P School |
98 |
102 |
15 |
215 |
High
School |
118 |
94 |
27 |
239 |
Higher
Secondary Schools |
46 |
45 |
37 |
128 |
Vocational
H.S.S |
30 |
11 |
- |
41 |
(Source:Economic
Review-2003) |
Arts
and Science Colleges |
Government |
Private |
Unaided |
8 |
12 |
5 |
Professional
Colleges |
Type
of Institutions |
Number |
Medical
College |
1 |
Ayurveda
College |
2 |
Dental
College |
2 |
Homeo
College |
2 |
Engineering
College |
12 |
Poly
Technics |
5 |
Law
College |
2 |
Agricultural
College |
1 |
Training
College |
10 |
Music
College |
1 |
I.T.I. |
4 |
I.T.C. |
37 |
T.T.I. |
8 |
Health
(Hospitals) |
|
Allopathy |
Ayurveda |
Homeopathy |
Hospitals |
118 |
78 |
55 |
Beds |
7800 |
813 |
285 |
Industries
and Infrastructure |
No.
of registered working factories |
897 |
No.of
SSI Units |
28918 |
Roads
(Distribution of P W D Roads (in kms) as on 31.03.2003
(in Kms) |
State
Highways |
Major
Districts Roads |
Other
Districts Roads |
Village
Roads |
Total |
169.360
|
704.123
|
899.907
|
80.067
|
1853.457
|
Vehicles
having valid registration (2003) |
Goods
Vehicles |
Buses |
Cars |
Taxis |
Jeeps |
Auto
Rickshaw |
Two
Wheelers |
Others
|
Total |
18461 |
13862 |
45035 |
10623 |
7010 |
28036 |
224274 |
2728 |
350029 |
Communication |
No.
of Post Offices |
No.
of Telephone Exchanges |
419 |
94 |
A BRIEF HISTORY
Thiruvananthapuram
city and several other places in the district loom large
in ancient tradition, folklore and literature. South Kerala,
particularly the Thiruvananthapuram district, had in the
early past a political and cultural history which was
in some respect independent of that of the rest of Kerala.
The Ays were the leading political power till the beginning
of the 10th century AD The disappearance of the Ays as
a major political power, synchronised with the emergence
of the rulers of Venad.
In
1684, during the regency of Umayamma Rani, the English
East India Company obtained a sandy spit of land at Anchuthengu
(Anjengo) on the sea coast about 32 kms north of Thiruvananthapuram
city, with a view to erecting a factory and fortifying
it. The place had earlier been frequented by the Portuguese
and later by the Dutch. It was from here that the English
gradually extended their domain to other parts of Thiruvithamcore
(Travancore).
Modern
history begins with Marthanda Varma, who is generally
regarded as the Father of modern Travancore (1729-1758
AD). Thiruvananthapuram was known as a great centre of
intellectual and artistic activities in those days. The
accession of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal (1829-1847 AD) ushered
in an epoch of cultural progress and economic prosperity.
The
beginning of English education was made in 1834 by opening
an English school at Thiruvananthapuram. In 1836, an observatory
and a charity hospital were established at Thiruvananthapuram.
During the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal (1860-1880), a fully
equipped Arts College was started besides the several
English, Malayalam and Tamil schools. A large hospital
with a lying-in-hospital and a lunatic asylum was also
established. In 1873, the University College was opened.
It was during the reign of Sri Moolam Thirunal (1885-1924),
that the Sanskrit College, Ayurveda College, Law College
and a second grade College for Women were started at Thiruvananthapuram.
A department for the preservation and publication of oriental
manuscripts was also established. One of the significant
measures associated with Shri Moolam Thirunal’s reign
was the inauguration of the Legislative Council in 1888.
This was the first legislative chamber, instituted in
an Indian State.
In
1904, the Shri Moolam Assembly came into being. The activities
of the Indian National Congress echoed in Thiruvananthapuram
and other parts of Kerala during the reign of Shri Moolam
Thirunal. In 1938, a political conference of the Congress
was held in the city under the presidency of Dr. Pattabi
Sitaramaiah.
The
period of Maharaja Shri Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma
who took the reigns of administration in 1931, witnessed
many-sided progress. The promulgation of the Temple Entry
Proclamation (1936) was an act that underlined social
emancipation. In 1937, a separate University for Travancore
was started. This was later redesigned as University of
Kerala, following the formation of Kerala State in 1956.
With
the accession of Travancore to the Indian Union after
Independence, the policy of the State Government as well
as the political atmosphere underwent radical changes.
The first popular ministry headed by Sri.Pattom A.Thanu
Pillai was installed in office on 24th March, 1948. Consequent
on the recommendations of the State Reorganisation Commission,
the four southern taluks of Thovala, Agasheeswaram, Kalkulam
and Vilavancode were merged with Tamil Nadu. The State
of Kerala came into being on November 1, 1956.
PHYSIOGRAPHY
Thiruvananthapuram,
the southern most district of Kerala State is situated
between north latitudes 8° 17' and 8° 54' and east longitudes
76° 41' and 77° 17'. The southern most extremity, Parasala,
is only 56 kms away from Kanyakumari, the "land’s end
of India". The district stretches along the shores of
the Arabian sea for a distance of 78 kms. Kollam district
is on the north and Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts
of Tamil Nadu are on the east and the south respectively.
The
district can be divided into three geographical regions-highlands,
midlands and lowlands. Chirayinkeezhu and Thiruvananthapuram
taluks lie in midland and low land regions, while Nedumangad
taluk lies in midland and highland regions and Neyyattinkara
taluk stretch over all the three regions. The highland
region comprises mainly of mountains. Bounded on the east
and northeast by the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats,
this area is ideal for major cash crop plantations like
rubber, tea, cardamom and other spices. Timber trees like
teak, rose wood, etc. are grown in this region. The midland
region, lying between the Western Ghats and the lowlands,
is made up of small and tiny hills and valleys. This is
an area of intense agricultural activity. This region
is rich in produces like paddy, tapioca, spices and cashew.
The low land is comparatively narrow and comprises of
rivers, deltas and seashore and is densely covered with
coconut palms. The Ghats maintain an average elevation
of 814 meters rising to peaks of 1219 to 1829 meters in
certain places. The Agastyakoodam, the southern most peak
in the Ghats, is 1869 meters above sea level and figures
in the popular mythology connected with Agastyamuni, the
sage. Mukkunnimala near Thiruvananthapuram (1074 meters)
is an important health resort in the district.
CLIMATE
The
large forest reserves favourably affect the climate and
induce more rain in the district. In the mountain ranges,
chilling cold is experienced, whereas lower down the climate
is bracing and in the plains, it is generally hot. Though
the mean maximum temperature is only around 90 F, it is
oppressive in the moisture-laden atmosphere of the plains.
Humidity is high and rises to about 90 per cent during
the southwest monsoon. The average rainfall is around
150 cms per annum. It is significant that the district
gets rainfall both from the southwest and the northeast
monsoons. The southwest monsoon starts by the end of May
or from the beginning of June and fades out by September,
while the northeast monsoon commences in October. Dry
weather sets in by the end of December. December, January
and February are the coolest months of the year. March,
April and May are generally very hot. During the months
of April and May, the mean daily maximum temperature rises
upto 35 degree Celsius and in the days of December-January,
it may go down to 20 degree Celsius.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Thiruvananthapuram
district is noted for its unique variety of flora and
fauna. The district has a rich variety of plants ranging
from rare orchids, medicinal plants and spices to hedge
plants, tuber crops, plants yielding edible fruits and
fibre yielding plants. Aromatic plants and spices such
as pepper and ginger are cultivated on a large scale on
the hilly tracts. The Nedumangadu taluk of the district
is one of the biggest centres of cultivation and trade
of pepper and other hill produces. A major portion of
the district comes under the middle plain and the region
is under the cultivation of coconut, paddy, tapioca, tuber
crops, plantains and vegetables crops. The forests of
the district abound in a variety of animals and birds
and its adjacent areas are conducive to the growth of
wild life. Elephants, bison, monkeys and rare species
of reptiles have the place of distinction in them. The
Neyyar reservoir and nearby areas abound in wild life.
Nestled in the lap of Western Ghats, a wild life sanctuary
is fastly growing over an area of nearly 777 sq. kms.
around this reservoir. It preserves the scenic beauty
of the area and provides a healthy holiday resort to the
tourists. The forest under the Kulathupuzha range is the
habitat of rare species of snakes and lizards. Mammals
are well represented in the district. Nilgiri Langur (Kasi
fohnii) the lion tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus), the
Nilgiri brown mangoose (Herpestes fuscus) and the Malabar
civet (Moschothere civettina) are characteristic to this
region. The monkeys include macaques and langurs. Carnivores
include tiger, jungle cat, toddy cat and leopard, though
the tiger population has become considerably scarce. Jackal,
wild dog, sloth bear, gaur (Kattupothu), a few species
of deer, elephants etc. are also seen. The reptiles include
the lizards, snakes, crocodiles and tortoises. There are
about 75-80 species of snakes in this area. Some of them
are very poisonous.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
More
than 50 per cent of the total population depends on agriculture
for their livelihood. Agricultural labourers constitute
42 per cent of the total labour class. Large scale industries
are not established in the district. Most of the people
are engaged in low remunerative pursuits which require
very little capital. Political and social consciousness,
coupled with the efforts of the social, religious and
cultural leaders, have helped considerably pull down the
age-old feudal order. Economic changes have also affected
the social life and attitude of the people
ADMINISTRATION
The
headquarters of the district administration is at Vanchiyoor,
Thiruvananthapuram, just 1.5 kms away from the Government
Secretariat and the Central Railway Station. The district
administration is headed by the District Collector. He
is assisted by six Deputy Collectors holding charges of
general matters, land acquisition, revenue recovery, land
reforms, housing and election. The District Collector
also holds the charge of the District Magistrate and is
assisted by the Additional District Magistrate (Deputy
Collector, General) and the Revenue Divisional Officer.
The district has only one revenue division, Thiruvananthapuram,
headed by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) and the
office is located at East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram. He
is also the Sub-divisional Magistrate. There are four
taluks, namely, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumangad
and Chirayinkeezhu (H.Q. at Attingal), each headed by
a Tahsildar.
DISTRICT PANCHAYAT
As
per the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India, the
new Panchayat Raj-Nagarapalika Act came into force. In
pursuance of related legislation in the State Legislative
Assembly, the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act came into effect
on 23rd April, 1994. The State Election Commission held
elections to grama panchayats, block panchayats, district
panchayats, municipalities and corporations in September,
1995. The elected representatives took over charge on
the Gandhi Jayanthi day of 1995. Thiruvananthapuram district
includes 84 grama panchayats,12 block panchayats, one
district panchayat, four municipalities and one corporation.
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