CHAPTER V RURAL INDUSTRIES IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT Kanyakumari is mainly an agricultural district. Its prosperity is, therefore mainly dependent on the development of agricultural resources. Intensive efforts are being made to raise the yield of different crops by adopting modern methods of cultivation. But agriculture alone cannot contribute to increase the incomes of the local people, since the area of cultivation is limited in relation to its growing population. Therefore, it is imperative that secondary sectors, particularly cottage industries, are also developed in order to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed. Village industries may be defined as those that manufacture articles needed in the villages utilizing tools and implements, raw materials, and human or animal power which are locally available. These industries play a vital role in the district in view of their capacity to generate employment opportunities in the rural sector at a low capital cost, developing local 6j7
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CHAPTER V
RURAL INDUSTRIES IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT
Kanyakumari is mainly an agricultural district. Its prosperity is,
therefore mainly dependent on the development of agricultural resources.
Intensive efforts are being made to raise the yield of different crops by
adopting modern methods of cultivation. But agriculture alone cannot
contribute to increase the incomes of the local people, since the area of
cultivation is limited in relation to its growing population. Therefore, it is
imperative that secondary sectors, particularly cottage industries, are also
developed in order to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed.
Village industries may be defined as those that manufacture
articles needed in the villages utilizing tools and implements, raw materials,
and human or animal power which are locally available. These industries play
a vital role in the district in view of their capacity to generate employment
opportunities in the rural sector at a low capital cost, developing local
6j7
initiative, co-operation and a spirit of self reliance in the economy, helping in
the utilization of the available manpower for processing locally simple
techniques, offering employment at the place of residence to a large section of
rural population and providing seasonal part time employment to the rural
people suffering from underemployment owing to the seasonal character of
agricultural operations.
Further, cottage industries require lesser gestation period and
produce goods required by the common man. They are eminently suited for
initiating the process of industrialization in the backward areas of the district
on a dispersed basis and they have the capacity to rectify the regional
imbalances. These industries have, therefore, been accorded an important
place in this credit plan with a view to achieve rapid industrialization of rural
areas.
For a long time, the district has been the land of cottage
industries. This sector has been providing employment to a large number of
people. The rural industries have been facing problems in getting adequate
finance. Availability of bank finance at a reasonable rate of interest will save
artisans from the clutches of money-lenders and wholesale traders who charge
usurious rates of interest.
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission and Tamil Nadu
Khadi and Village Industries Board provide assistance to artisans by way of
loans for meeting working capital requirements and also for the purchase of
tools and implements in the cases of selected industries. Besides these, they
also assist the respective industries in marketing their products, in training
their artisans and in promoting research in the production techniques'.
Kanyakumari district has got an area of 1684.17 sq.km . This
district is rich in resources derived from land, sea and forest. The urban area
is reported to be 43 sq.km . But the rural areas cover a total of 1641sq.km .
However, around 49354 hectares are reported to be forest lands. It has been
endowed with a coastline of about 68 kms.
Generally speaking, the people of this district are hard working.
With higher percentage of literacy, the people of this district have a lure for
white collar jobs, particularly government jobs. Hence they are not interested
in taking up industrial ventures.
One of the main bottlenecks which hampers the growth of
industries in this district is the non-availability of vacant lands for setting up
industries. The high cost of land also contributes to low development of
industries in this district.
Though this district has got enough raw materials and
infrastructural facilities, it has to take a seat in the back bench in the field of
industrial development. With the growing rate of unemployment due to stiff
Credit Plan for Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, Lead Bank Cell, Indian Overseas Bank, Madras,1978, p.73.
'JiLAVANCOOE4</ KLg'rtAM ThOVA
100
MAJOR VILLAGE INDUSTRIES PATRONISED BYTHE DISTRICT INDUSTRIES CENTRE
N
AND THEIR OCATIONS I
KERALA STATEI&II t I tTDWT
4
'C AGASTEESWARAM
T
ARABIAN SEA
EROCRL A?
GULF OF MANNAR
Stone Ca rving : Mvhiy
Hand Embroider' LaceNa q eao. Nvoor. Mutagumr3d Kattatucai, MathcOde.
competition from other districts, the educated youth of this district are now
inclined to take up industrial ventures. It is therefore, expected that there will
be rapid industrial development in this district in the coming years2.
The details of rural industries in this district are discussed below.
Banana Fibre
Banana fibre is used to produce bags, table mats, and many other
items. Banana fibre crafts is flourishing in Agasteeswaram and Killiyoor
blocks. The value of the banana fibre products produced in the year 1999-
2000 was estimated at Rs. 180970003.
Talipot Fibre
Talipot is a kind of palm common in India, whose leaves are
used for covering roofs, making fans and the like.
In Kanyakumari district, the talipot fibre is used to make bags,
tea mats, fancy trays and the like. The value of these articles produced in the
year 1999-2000 has been estimated at Rs.1 i50000.
Wood Carving
This is very popular in the district which is evident from the fact
that even today one can see the workmanship in the temple doors and the
furniture in the monumental palace at Padmanabhapuram. However, lack of
2 Action Plan for 997-98 to 2001-2002, DIC, Kanyakumari, pp.5-6.District Statistical Hand Book 1999-2000, Kanyakumari District, pp.84-85.1bid., pp.84-85.
102
encouragement and increase in production costs have led to the wane of this
traditional craft.
The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited
in order to encourage and promote industries, have set up a Poompuhar
Temple Car Training Centre at Nagercoil to impart training in wood crafts
such as wood carvings, building temple cars and carved wooden doors. To
market the finished products, a showroom with sales centre in Kanyakumari
has been set up by the Poompuhar. This product commands good demand at
Kanyakumari5.
In Kanyakumari district, the value of wood carving articles
produced in the year 1999-2000 stood at Rs.36400006.
Sandal Wood Carving
Sandal wood is used to make portraits of god and goddess,
panels and the like. The value of sandal wood carvings produced in
Kanyakumari district in the year 1999-2000 was Rs.250000.7
Stone Carving
This is a traditional craft which flourished under the Pandiyan
kings known for their inexorable interest in art and architecture. In the temple
at Suchindrum which is known for its exquisite stone carvings is a standing
M. Gopala Krishnan, Gazetteers of India, Tamil Nadu State, Kanyakumari District, Madras PrintersIndustrial Co-operative Society, Madras-5, 1995, p.356.
6 District Statistical Hand Book, 1999-2000, Qpcjt., pp.84-85.District Statistical Hand Book, 1999-2000, ppcjt., pp.84-85.
103
monument of the ancient architectural marvels. This traditional art has found
its way into the 20th century also, for example the Vivekananda Rock
Memorial was constructed meticulously with blue and red granite. The red
granite used for the shikharams of the mandapam is very unique and
imposing. It has won the appreciation of one and all the world over. These
two constructions thus reveal the traditional standards and the perfection
attained in architecture. In fact it is a harmonious blend of traditional art and
architecture. These arts still have roots in Mylaudy Thirupathisaram and
Aralvoimozhi8.
Stone carving of gods and goddess are in very great demand.
The value of stone carvings produced in the district in the year 1999-2000 was
Rs .4395000.
Bell Metal Industry
It is popular especially in the manufacture of brass vessels,
lamps (Kuthuvilakku), temple bells and uruli. The brass vessels are largely
ornamental with the images of gods, flowers and sacred animals carved on
them. Kottar, Nagercoil municipality areas has also long been associated with
the manufacture of domestic vessels made of vellode or bell metal.
8 M. Gopala Krishnan, , pçjt., p.357.District Statistical Hand Book, 1999-2000, pçjt., pp.84-85.
104
The decline in market for these products has caused a set back to
this industry. So, Poompuhar takes care of marketing these articles and as a
result the industry now heaves a sigh of relief10
In Kanyakumari district, the value of brass metal articles
produced in the year 1999-2000 was Rs. 429000011
Lace and Embroidery Work
This craft was popularized in Kanyakumari district by the early
missionaries. The workmen ship of the needle craft practiced in the district is
superb. The craft is now so important especially for its prospects in
employing the largest number of rural women folk. The artisans have their
own designs, colours and patterns.
Lace and embroidery manufacturing centers are found
concentrated in Nagercoil, Marthandam, Neyyoor, Mulagamood, Kanjiracode,
Irenipuram, Ki lliyoor, Raj akkamangalam, Kuruthancode, Thuckalay and
thiruvattar. The C.S.I. Lace and Embroidery unit, Nagercoil is the pioneer
institution, which manufactures and exports the lace and the embroidery
products of village women 12
The articles produced by the lace industry are bed spread, table
cloth, cushion cover, napkins, and undergarments for women. The value of
10 M. Gopala Krishnan, p cIt., p.357.District Statistical Hand Book, 1999-2000, QpcIt., pp.84-85.
12 M. Gopala Krishnan, loc.cit., p.357.
105
articles produced in the year 1999-2000 was found to be Rs.19230000 in
Kanyakumari district.
Temple Jewellery
This is similar to costume jewellery excepting that real gold leaf
beaten to extreme thinness is used for covering the surface of the ornament.
So, the ornaments made in this style are costlier. The ornaments made in the
temple jewellery style are made to specifications to suit the temple deities. 13
The temple jewellery ornaments are made in the regions coming under
Rajakkamangalam block and Nagercoil municipality.
The articles available under the temple jewellery are reed sets,
bangles, studs, kanga malai, pendants, hair clips and the like. The value of
temple jewellery articles produced here in the year 1999-2000 was
Rs.4626000.14
Costume Jewellery
These are also similar to the temple jewellery except that the
metal used is neither gold nor silver and hence cheap. These are used by the
stage artistes.
The craft is practiced by a section of goldsmiths belonging to the
Viswakarma Community at Nagercoil and Vadaseri.' 5 The silver jewellery
13 M. Gopala Krishnan, Qpçjt., p.358.' District Statistical Hand Book, 1999-2000, Qpçjt., pp.84-85.15 M. Gopala Krishnan, cit., p.358.
106
works available are bangles, finger rings, door fittings of numerous designs
and sizes. The value of silver jewelery articles produced in the year 1999-
2000 stood at Rs.9600016.
Kora Grass Mat
This is one of the most popular crafts of this district. This is a
cottage industry which employs a large number of womenfolk and children.
The korai grass is not available locally but procured from Karur in
Tiruchirappalli district and Vellore in North Arcot district. However, the
korai grass available in Vellore is much different from the same available in
Karur. The popular korai grass varieties used here are Koolamattam and
Marmattam. Mat weaving centers are at Thuckalay, Madhavalayam,