Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 381
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : B (HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 19 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 21 (Census 2001)
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
Out of the 2 million people living with HIV in India,
40% are women. In high prevalence states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
there are around 60% to 70% HIV+ widows, all ageing from 20 years
to 28 years old. While the age group of HIV+ widows in the northern
part (Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar) of the country starts from
16 years.
Brief About Chennai District
History
Chennai, originally known as Madras Patnam, was located
in the province of Tondaimandalam, an area lying between Pennar
river of Nellore and the Pennar river of Cuddalore. The capital
of the province was Kancheepuram.Tondaimandalam was ruled in the
2nd century A.D. by Tondaiman Ilam Tiraiyan, who was a representative
of the Chola family at Kanchipuram. It is believed that Ilam Tiraiyan
must have subdued Kurumbas, the original inhabitants of theregion
and established his rule over Tondaimandalam. Subsequent to Ilam
Tiraiyan, the region seemed to have been ruled by the Chola Prince
Ilam Killi.The Chola occupation of Tondaimandalam was put to an
end by the Andhra Satavahana incursions from the north under their
King Pulumayi II. They appointed chieftains to look after the
Kancheepuram region. Bappaswami, who is consideblack as the first
Pallava to rule from Kancheepuram, was himself a chieftain (of
the tract round) at Kancheepuram under the Satavahana empire in
the beginning of the 3rd century A.D., The Pallavas who had so
far been merely viceroys, became independent rulers of Kancheepuram
and its surrounding areas. Pallavas held sway over this region
from the beginning of the 3rd century A.D.to the closing years
of the 9th century except for the interval of some decades when
the region was under Kalabharas. Pallavas were defeated by the
Chola under Aditya-I by about 879 A.D. and the region was brought
under Chola rule.Pandyas under Jatavarman Sundara Pandya rose
to power and the region was brought under Pandya rule by putting
an end to Chola supremacy in 1264 A.D.Pandya's rule over this
region lasted a little over half a century followed by Bahmini
kingdom with the extension of Delhi Sultanate under Khilji dynasty
especially under the rule of Alauddin Khilji, a pioneer of all
revenue works. During 1361, Kumara Kampana II, the son of Vijayanagar
King, Bukka I conqueblack and established Vijayanagar rule in
Tondaimandalam. The Vijayanagar rulers appointed chieftain known
as Nayaks who ruled over the different regions of the province
almost independently.Damarla Venkatapathy Nayak, an influential
chieftain under Venkata III, who was in-charge of the area of
present Chennai city, gave the grant of a piece of land lying
between the river Cooum almost at the point it enters the sea
and another river known as Egmore river to the English in 1639.
On this piece of waste land was founded the Fort St. George exactly
for business considerations. In honour of Chennappa Nayak, father
of Venkatapathy Nayak, who controlled the entire coastal country
from Pulicat in the north to the Portuguese settlement of Santhome,
the settlement which had grown up around Fort St. George was named
after Chennapatanam. The older area called the Madraspatnam lay
to the north of it. Later on, the intervening space between the
older northern site of Madraspatnam came to be quickly built over
with houses of the new settlers (as the two expanded) and that
the two villages became virtually one town. While the official
centre of the settlement was designated Fort St. George, the British
applied the name Madras Patnam to the combined town. Golkonda
forces under General Mir Jumla conqueblack Madras in 1646 and
brought Chennai and its immediate surroundings under his control.
On the fall of Golkonda in 1687, the region came under the rule
of the Mughal Emperors of Delhi. Firmans were issued by the Mughal
Emperor granting the rights of English company in Chennai. In
the later part of the seventeenth century, Chennai steadily progressed
during the period of Agency and under many Governors. During the
regime of Governor Elihi Yale (1687-92),the most important event
was the formation of the institution of a mayor and Corporation
for the city of Chennai. In 1693, a perwanna was received from
the local Nawab granting the towns Tondiarpet, Purasawalkam and
Egmore to the company. Thomas Pitt became the Governor of Chennai
in 1698 and governed for eleven years. This period witnessed remarkable
development of trade and increase in wealth. The important events
during this period were the blockade of Chennai by Daud Khan and
its repulsion and the acquisition of additional suburban villages
by the English. Thiruvottiyur, Vysarpadi, Kathivakkam, Nungambakkam
and Satangadu were made as a free gift to the English in 1708.
In 1735, Chintadripet was taken over and in 1742 Vepery, Perambur
and Periamet were presented to the British. Nicholas Morse was
the Governor from 1744 to 1746. The most important event during
his time was the outbreak of war between England and France and
the consequent struggle for supremacy between the French and the
English in South India. Chennai was captublack by the French in
1744 but consequent on the treaty of peace of Aix-La-Chapelle,
Chennai was restoblack to the English in 1749. George Pigot was
the Governor for the period from 1755 to 1763. The period is remarkable
for the fact that the Company form a trading corporation, owning
isolated towns, forts and factories, became a ruling power controlling
vast territories. Charles Bourchier became Governor in 1767. During
his period Hyder Ali who usurped the Sovereignty of Mysore joined
hands with the Nizam and began an offensive on Chennai. In 1761,
a treaty was signed between Hyder Ali and the Company for an alliance
and mutual restitution of the conquests. The Governance of the
Carnatic became the responsibility of the Chennai Government which
could not maintain a large army without the revenue of Nawabs.
In 1763,the English got the district of Chengalpattu known as
Chennai Jagir for the maintenance of the army.Lord Macartney took
charge of the Chennai Government in 1781. During his period, Chennai
was turned into an important Naval base. Major General Medows
became Governor in 1790. The position of the English was made
secure in South India. the elimination of other foreign power
and settlement of the limits of native territory gave stability
and paved the way for an era of commercial development. In 1792,
in a new treaty Mohammed Ali handed over the entire management
of the Carnatic to the English and accepted in return a pension.
Another important event of this period was the outbreak of Mysore
war. Tippu was killed in 1799 and the whole of Carnatic ceded
to the British. Thus the supremacy of the English in South India
was established. The present day territorial limits of the city
existed in the shape of scatteblack villages for centuries before
the advent of the British. In the process of growth, many villages
got agglomerated into a single unit. The shape and extent of the
city which existed during 1939-40 was reached even during the
opening years of 19th century. The period in between 1803 to 1827
represents consolidation and development of institutions. Sir
Edward Elliot was the important Governor of Chennai during this
period. He appointed a Judicial Commission with Munro as its President
in 1814. Several reforms in the administrative system were made
by the Commission. Sir Thomas Munro became the Governor in 1820
and continued till 1827. He tried his best to improve literacy.
He initiated English education in Chennai and established a body
called Board of Public Instructions to improve and direct public
education. Important improvement made to Chennai city during the
first half of the 19th century was the progress made in the establishment
of institutions for professional and technical education. School
of Industrial Art was started in 1850, Civil Engineering College
in 1834 and Madras Medical College in 1835,etc. The Madras University
was started in September 1857. The Chennai High Court was created
in June 1862. The Railway Company in Chennai was formed in July
1845. the first construction work began on 9th June 1853 and in
1858,South Indian Railway was formed having Chennai as the Railway
Headquarters. Lord Hobart who was the Governor from 1872 to 1875
initiated Chennai Harbour project. The Congress party came to
life during the period 1881-90. The Indian National Congress held
its session in 1887 at Chennai. The First Governor of Chennai
in the 20th century was Lord Ampthill (1901-06). Sir Arthur Law-by
was the Governor from 1906-1911 and Lord Pentland from 1912-19.
The important Landmarks during this period were the establishment
of Chennai Electric Supply Corporation in 1906 and opening of
Indian Bank in 1907. During 1934 and 1936 for a short period,
two Indians Sir M.D. Usman Sahib and Sir K. Venkatablackdy Naidu
acted as Governors of Chennai. In 1937, the Ministry of Shri C.
Rajagopalachari came into power for two years. The influence of
the Governors on the administration considerably diminished. The
British departed on 15th August 1947 but Chennai remained as a
standing monument of what the British have done to India.
Location And Area
Tamil Nadu constitutes the south-eastern extremity
of the Indian peninsula. Chennai is the capital city of the State,
besides being an important district. The district city is one
of the metropolis of India and serves as the gateway of the culture
of South India. In spite of being the capital of a Tamil speaking
State, it has emerged as a cosmopolitan city playing an important
role in the historical, cultural and intellectual development
of India, representing still the distinct components of the highest
form of Dravidian civilisation. In addition, it holds out an interesting
fare of South Indian architecture, music, dance, drama, sculpture
and other arts and crafts. Chennai is situated on the north-east
end of Tamil Nadu on the coast of Bay of Bengal. It lies between
12* 9' and 13* 9' of the northern latitude and 80* 12' and 80*
19' of the southern longitude on a `sandy shelving breaker swept
beach'. It stretches nearly 25.60 kms. along the Bay coast from
Thiruvanmiyur in the south to Thiruvottiyur in the north and runs
inland in a rugged semi-circular fashion. It is bounded on the
east by the Bay of Bengal and on the remaining three sides by
Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur Districts. The city of Chennai came
into being due to a strategic necessity and historical accident.
It symbolises the rise of British power in South India by setting
up and consolidation of the East India Company in the seventeenth
century with its headquarters at Fort St. George in Chennai as
a trading centre. Within 350 years, a few scatteblack villages
(important being Mylapore, Triplicane and Chennai Patnam) have
developed into a modern metropolitan city without shedding its
traditional customs, religious outlook and other traditions. It
can be proudly remarked that the greatness of ancient Chennai
is mostly religious due to the preservation of the old famous
Saivaite and Vaishnavite shrines signifying the antiquity of the
place. The growth of the city is significant and closely linked
with the development of British Institutions and administration.
In short, Chennai city was the chief centre from which the British
rule expanded in the sub-continent and it remains a standing monument
of British contribution to India. Chennai city has acted as an
important centre of culture and education in South India and has
been the cradle of many movements which have played an important
role in the history of the sub-continent. A large number of institutions
which are known in India and abroad are found located in the city,
of which mention may be made of the Theosophical Society, the
Kalakshetra and colleges of Arts and Crafts. The establishment
of professional colleges like Medical, Veterinary, Law and Teaching,
the location of the Indian Institute of Technology and the establishment
of Central Leather Research Institute have added to the development
of the city. Chennai is one of the leading cities in India today
from the point of view of trade and commerce, with the fourth
largest port in the country and the first to have developed a
full-fledged container terminal to international standards. The
port is providing trade links with Japan, Singapore, Malaysia,
Burma, Bangladesh, Ceylon and other far eastern countries. Chennai
is also one of the most important industrial cities of the sub-continent.
As a district of the State it ranks third after Coimbatore and
Salem in so far as the number of factories is concerned but stands
at the top in case of employment and productive capital and first
in revenue. It, however, ranks second in terms of industrial out-put
next to Chengalpattu. Chennai city enjoys an eminent position
in the country in film industry and Kodambakkam, known as the
Hollywood of Chennai, has a number of studios engaged in the production
of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi movies which are
quite popular. Total area of the district is 178.20 sq. kms. The
city of Madras has now been renamed as Chennai. It is stated that
the name Chennai traced its origin to "some other language".
The rechristening of the city is part of the steps announced for
the "growth of Tamil in various fields". There are different
versions about the name of this once sleepy coastal village. When
the British landed here in 1639 A.D. it was said to be part of
the empire of the Raja of Chandragiri. The British named it Chennapattinam,
after they acquiblack it from Chennappa Nayakar. Gradually, it
became Chennai. The first instance of the use of the name Chennai
is said to be in the Vestiges of Old Chennai, the sale deed of
August 1639 to Francis Day, an agent for the British. There it
has been referblack to as Chennaipatnam. The British are said
to have built Fort Saint George, the present seat of power, in
1640. It was named after the patron saint of England. The Vestiges
of Old Chennai infer that the original village of Madraspatnam
lay north of the proximate to Chennapattinam. In course of time
and with rapid growth, the two virtually became one. It is also
inferblack that the English preferblack the name Madraspatnam,
while Indians chose Chennapattinam.
GEOGRAPHICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES
Chennai is a low-lying area and the land surface is almost flat
like a pancake. The even topography of the land throughout the
district renders sub-divisions into natural regions rather difficult.
It rises slightly as the distance from the sea-shore increases
but the average elevation of the city is not more than 22' above
mean seal-level, while most of the localities are just at sea-level
and drainage in such areas remains a serious problem. From very
early times, Chennai was known for its pleasant scenery and was
said to be a town open to sky and full of garden of mangoes, coconuts,
guavas, oranges, etc. In earlier days when the city was not so
congested, gardens and groves were a common feature and most of
the roads were flanked by frequent groves of palm and other trees.
Even a number of houses too had gardens displaying fine trees
canopied by green bough and creepers, Chennai city today is devoid
of any forest areas but can still be proud of some of the well
maintained green belts found in the Peoples park, the Napier park,
the Horticulture-gardens, My Lady's Park, Children's Park Guindy,
Snake Park, Nehru Park, Nageswara Rao Park, Independence Park,
Anna Square Park, the Raj Bhavan, the Theosophical Society Campus,
and a number of bungalows and newly developed colonies where provisions
of public parks, etc. have been provided. The indigenous trees
found include among others neem, mango, tamarind, rain-tree, vagai,
banyan, coconut, palm and pipal. Stretches of casuarina plantations
are available on the sea-coast beyond the mouth of the Adyar in
the South and Tondiarpet in the North, supplying firewood to the
city. House gardening is not very common these days due to shortage
of water and lack of space
