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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