General information
Total population : 83,580 (G.O.I. Census figures as per 2001)
Description of population: Mostly "gounder,
vanniar" caste (a most backward caste) and harijans. Small
farmers, skilled and unskilled labourers, fishermen. The entire
area has been certified "backward and in need of development"
by the Collector of South Arcot District in 1984, but is rapidly
improving. The impact of the development of Pondicherry and
Auroville is noticeable.
Information on some villages
(Lists the G.O.I. census figures as
well as the village's relationship to Auroville and projects
undertaken by the Village Action Group)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Edayanchavady
|
|
Gounder caste, very few harijans. Mostly
skilled and unskilled labourers and farmers. Udavi School,
youth club strong, new women's club, Auroville health sub-centre,
two night schools and one health worker. Toilets and kitchen
gardens established. Supplementary education in the Government
Primary School, selected as model village under the scheme of
HUDCO. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
2,369
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
Kottakarai
|
|
Farmers, skilled and unskilled labourers.
Co-op society, night school, library, Trickle-up programme (TUP).
Many children attend Isaiambalam crèche and school. There is
an Auroville health sub-centre, community health workers, toilets,
kitchen gardens and afforestation projects, active youth and
women’s club. Supplementary education in the Government Primary
School. Credit and savings. Installation of hand pumps.
|
|
|
Population:
|
669
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
Ambethkar
Nagar (Kottakarai colony)
|
|
The Dalit settlement (outcaste) of Kottakarai
village, placed directly opposite. Little cooperation between
the two. Landless labourers used to work for large landlord.
Many young men have joined Auroville. DANIDA well project, TUP,
women's club, youth club and night school. Toilets have been
constructed and the village has local health practitioners.
Installation of hand pumps.
|
|
|
Population:
|
533
|
|
Type of village:
|
Schedule caste colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.
|
Alankuppam
|
|
Pondicherry State village. Facilities include
veterinary service, library, street drainage, ample water, health
sub-centre with trained staff nurse and a High school. Contact
through youth club, sports club, day school, and night school.
Kitchen gardens and local health practitioners. Installation
of hand pumps. Supplementary education in the Government Primary
School.
|
|
|
Population:
|
1,240
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.
|
Annainagar
(Alankuppam colony)
|
|
Dalit settlement at some distance from Alankuppam;
also with many benefits from Pondicherry State: loans, harijan
housing, etc. Night school. Youth club, kitchen garden and local
health practitioner and a very active women’s club with the
help of whom an overhead tank was constructed by AVAG and AV
Health centre. Credit and savings. Installation of hand pumps.
|
|
|
Population:
|
470
|
|
Type of village:
|
Schedule caste colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.
|
Sanjeevinagar
|
|
Prosperous village, with Pondicherry state
advantages. (Big toddy liquor shop of the area here. Encouragement
to local dramatists (best in area). Night school and women's
club. Organic farming trial plots, kitchen gardens and local
health practitioners. Mohanam cultural centre, youth club. Installation
of hand pumps. Supplementary education in the Government Primary
School. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
1,369
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.
|
Rayapettai
|
|
Agricultural village with many working for
Auroville. Half population is Muslim, half Hindu. The Hindu
section is socially conscious and active, Muslims have a separate
sangam, but their children come to the Hindu night school. Long
lived youth club and night school. Toilets and kitchen gardens.
Women’s group. Installation of hand pumps. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
617
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.
|
Rayapudhupakkam
|
|
Distant from Auroville, primarily agricultural.
Rayapettai is actually a hamlet of this village. Contact through
development works, night school teacher, woman health worker
and farmers of ecological agriculture. Auroville health sub-centre,
kitchen garden and local health practitioner. Women’s group
and youth club. Supplementary education in the Government Primary
School. Installation
of hand pump. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
770
|
|
Type of village:
|
Panchayat village
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.
|
Aravindhapuram
|
|
Dalit settlement of Rayapudupakkam. Noted
in the area for its many members who have taken advantage of
assistance for harijans and become professional. Good contact
with youth club, women's club, community health worker and night
school. Toilets, kitchen gardens, afforestation projects and
local health practitioners. Overhead tank built by AV Health
centre and AVAG. More community service projects. Income Generation
Programme for Women. Supplementary education in the Government
Primary School. Installation
of hand pumps. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
957
|
|
Type of village:
|
Schedule caste colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.
|
Thuruvai
Village & Dalit Settlement
|
|
Elders participate with youth in "sangam"
along with panchayat members and president; village helps colony.
Pilot tree planting project successfully carried out here. Contact
with sangam, library, youth club, community health worker, night
school, sport. Organic farming trial plots, kitchen gardens,
afforestation projects and local health practitioners. Active
women’s club in Dalit settlement. Supplementary education in
the Government Primary School. Installation of hand pumps. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
810
|
|
Type of village:
|
Village: Panchayat
Colony:
Schedule caste colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.
|
Irumbai
Village & Dalit settlement
|
|
A quiet village. Site of an ancient temple.
DANIDA well project, youth attend Village Action Group seminars.
Women's club, community health worker, small night school. Local
health practitioners and kitchen gardens. Supplementary education
in the Government Primary School.
Installation of hand pumps. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
570
|
|
Type of village:
|
Village: Panchayat
Colony:
Schedule caste colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.
|
Morattandi
Village & colony
|
|
On Madras road near Auroville community
of Promesse. Govt. re-housing for harijans. All Aurovilians
living in Promesse participate in the Arul Vazhi project with
village children, conducting kindergarten and evening programmes.
Night school and eco-club, youth and women's club, village reading
room, health sub-centre, community health worker, toilets, kitchen
gardens, afforestation projects and local health practitioners.
Supplementary education in the Government Primary School.
Installation of hand pumps.
|
|
|
Population:
|
1,016
|
|
Type of village:
|
Village: Revenue village
Colony:
Schedule caste colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.
|
Kuilapalayam
|
|
Closest to Auroville settlements. Handicraft
& production units, Bank, Post Office, Auroville Health
Centre, New Creation school for village children, training centre.
Crèche, night school, day school, workers education programme.
Women's club, toilets and kitchen gardens. Supplementary education
in the Government Primary School. Installation of hand pumps.
Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
2,256
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.
|
Lakshmipuram
|
|
Hamlet of Kuilapalayam. Population included
in Kuilapalayam above. Includes many carpenters living around
the carpentry co-op; depends on Fraternity for water. Drama
group. Good contact with Village Action Group.
|
|
|
Population:
|
350
|
|
Type of village:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.
|
Bommayapalayam
|
|
Large village. Division in leadership makes
village organization difficult. Night school, crèche, youth
club, women's club, community health workers, toilets, kitchen
gardens, afforestation projects and local health practitioners.
Supplementary education in the Government Primary School. Credit
and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
2,102
|
|
Type of village:
|
Panchayat
|
|
|
|
|
|
16.
|
Gandhinagar
|
|
Harijan colony of Bommayapalayam. Seaside
village. Night school building. Toilets and kitchen gardens.
|
|
|
Population:
|
476
|
|
Type of village:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17.
|
Periya
Mudaliar Chavadi
|
|
Seaside village not far from Pondicherry.
Many educated youths, night school, reading room, community
service days etc. Good contact with Village Action Group. Kitchen
gardens and local health practitioners. Supplementary education
in the Government Primary School.
|
|
|
Population:
|
813
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue Village
|
|
|
|
|
|
18.
|
Chinna
Mudaliar Chavadi
|
|
Seaside village. Community health workers.
Kitchen gardens started by Village Action Group. Youth club
in fishermen’s community. Supplementary education in the Government
Primary School.
|
|
|
Population:
|
812
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue and fisherman village
|
|
|
|
|
|
19.
|
Pillaichavadi
|
|
Distant seaside village. Youth club, women's
club, micro projects, kitchen gardens and local health practitioners.
|
|
|
Population:
|
1,350
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
20.
|
Mathur
Village & Colonies
|
|
Agricultural village, quite remote. Night
school, community health workers, kitchen gardens, afforestation
projects and local health practitioners. Contact through greenwork.
Women’s club. Supplementary education in the Government Primary
School. Credit and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
1,490
|
|
|
Type of village:
|
Village: Panchayat
Colony:
Schedule caste colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21.
|
Kalapet
|
|
Pondicherry seaside village. Site of large
scale industrial development: Many farmers displaced by compulsory
land purchase; problem of pollution from newly introduced industries.
Youth club, women's club and local health practitioners. Credit
and savings.
|
|
|
Population:
|
980
|
|
|
Type of village:
|
Revenue village
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
