Kanyakumari District is the Southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula and a unique place where trisea namely the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal confluences. It is located between 8º03’ to 8º35’ North latitude and 77º15’ to 77º36’ East longitude. The total geographical area of this district is 1672 square kilometers. As per the 2011 Census, the total population of this district was 1870374 out of which, 926345 males and 944029 females. The population density was 1119 per sq. km, the highest next to Chennai district in Tamil Nadu State.
District Division and Taluks
The headquarter of the district is at Nagercoil. The district is divided into two revenue divisions namely Padmanabhapuram and Nagercoil having the headquarters at Thuckalay and Nagercoil respectively. There are six taluks namely, Agastheeswaram, Thovalai, Vilavancode, Kalkulam, Killiyoor and Thiruvattar.
INDUSTRIES
As far as Industrial Development is concerned, this district is one of the most Industrial Backward Districts in the State. The district has no major industries except Indian Rare Earths Ltd (Government of India enterprise at Manavalakurichi), Kanya Spinning Mill, the co-operative sector at Aralvaimozhi and Nagammal Mills (Private sector) at Nagercoil, Tapioca Flour, Wheat Flour Mill, in Cape Flour Mills Chunkankadai and Coir industry at Ammandivilai, Gloves factory at Konam and Anandhanadarkudi and some big and small Fishnet factories in the private sector. Forty-two fishing centers are located on the sea shore. Next to agriculture, people are engaged in fishing. 1% of the population is engaged in handloom weaving occupation which is also dwindling year after year less wage when compared with the other occupations.
EDUCATION
There are many Educational Institutions in this district that offer Primary Level Education to Higher Level Education. On the Education front, this district stands first in Literacy rate in Tamil Nadu. Government Medical College Asaripallam commenced in 2003-2004, with the strength of 100 students; now the college has the strength of 752 students. This district has one Government Medical College, one Government Ayurvedic college, and one Private Medical College.
AGRICULTURE (in. Hec.)
| Total Cultivate Area (Hec) | 79801 |
| Net Area Sown (Hec) | 73481 |
| Area Sown more than Once (Hec) | 6320 |
| Area and Production of Principal Crops | Area ‘000’ Production in ‘000’ (Hect.) | Tonnes |
| Rice (Paddy) | 9628 | 33034 |
| Millets and Other Cereals | Nil | Nil |
| Pulses | 329 | 247 |
| Sugarcane (in terms of gur) | Nil | Nil |
| Groundnut | 10 | 34 |
| Gingelly | Nil | Nill |
| Cotton | Nil | Nil |
AGRICULTURE AND LAND HOLDINGS
| Holdings (in Nos) | 448963 |
| Area (in Hec) | 81703.69 |
| The average size of Holdings (in Hec) | 0.18 |
FOOD CROPS (2015-2016)
| Name of the important food crops | Paddy, Tapioca, Plantain |
| Important Non-Food Crops | Coconut, Rubber |
LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY POPULATION (20th Livestock Census)
| Cow | 70371 |
| Buffaloes | 1409 |
| Sheep | 224 |
| Goat | 108901 |
| Poultry | 934575 |
DIARY DEVELOPMENT
| No.of milk co-operative societies: 53 | |
| Milk Production: | (Lakh Litres) |
| Flush Season | 0.44 |
| Lean Season | 0.38 |
FISHERIES
| Length of the coastal line (In Kms) | 72 KM |
| No. of coastal blocks | 5 |
| No, of coastal centers (Landing) | 3 |
| Marine Fish production (Tonne) | 69686.64 18 |
| Inland Fish Production (Tonne) | 69686.64 18 |
| No Fishing co-operative societies | Nil |
EDUCATION
| Universities | 1 |
| Arts & Science Colleges | 27 |
| Colleges for professional education (B.Ed.) | 34 |
MEDICINE
| Allopathy | 2 |
| Indian Medicine | 5 |
| Homeopathy | 3 |
| Engineering | 30 |
HARBOUR
Chinnamuttom has the only fishing harbor in Kanyakumari District. The harbor was constructed between 1984 and 1994 at the cost of 684.70 lakhs under a 50% Government of India (GOI) grant. The construction of the harbour encouraged the local fishing fleet to grow from 70 mechanized boats and 100 country boats to 143 mechanized boats, 166 country boats and 20 fibre-reinforced boats by 1994. The fishing season is June to March. During the months of April and May, the vessels are not allowed into the sea due to the fishes’ reproductive season, and are instead moved to dry-land and are repaired, painted, and refreshed in the vessel-building yard.
LANGUAGE
Tamil is the most widely spoken language in the Kanyakumari district, though there are significant numbers of native Malayalam speakers (Malayalis). Kanyakumari District has a Tamil dialect which is completely different from other parts of Tamil Nadu since it has extensive Malayalam influence. English can be understood by two-thirds of the district’s population.
FESTIVALS
Festivals are held in all the taluks in connection with various celebrations in the temples, mosques, and churches. The car festival at Suchindram attracts a large number of crowds in January. The Kodai festival in March in the Mondaicadu temple in the Kalkulam Taluk gets a large gathering. The Thirukalya Utsavam in the Kumaracoil temple in the Kalkulam taluk in March – April is observed as an important festival. Pongal in January and Deepavali in November are also occasions for festivity and rejoicing among the Hindu Communities. The Malayalis celebrate Onam in August – September with feasts and sports. Muslims in all the taluks observe Muharrarn and Ramzan. Christmas is an important festival for Christians. The St.Xavier’s Church at Kottar, as an annual festival in December, is usually celebrated on a very grand scale and attracts Catholic people from all over South India.
FOLK ARTS
Many Folk arts and dances are popular in the Kanyakumari district. They are played during the time of festivals in temples, celebrations in Schools, etc.
CLIMATE DATA FOR KANYAKUMARI
CONCLUSION
Kanyakumari District is equipped with infrastructures like educational institutions, industries, and tourist centers. It also shows the highly developed agricultural situation of the District. Banks, Insurance, and other institutions play a vital role in the development of the Kanyakumari District.