Social, Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 192
Sex Ratio Rank : 480
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 88 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 211 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits

Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
Lack of income generation activities.
Deforestation has led to inadequate rainfall.
There is gender inequity in agriculture labour, where men are paid more than women for the same amount of work.
Lack of employment opportunities has led the youths to migrate to other cities.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS is high in the district.

Brief About Dindigul District
Dindigul district was carved out of the composite Madurai District on 15.9.85 and named after one of the illustrious son of Tamil Nadu, Thiru.C.N. Annadurai who was affectionately called as Anna by one and all.

Dindigul, which was under the rule of the famous Muslim Monarch, Tippusultan, has a glorious past. The historical Rock Fort of this district was constructed by the famous Naik King Muthukrishnappa Naicker. It is located between 10⁰05” and 10⁰ 9” North Latitude and 77⁰30” and 78⁰20” East Longitude.

This district is bound by Erode, Coimbatore, Karur and Trichy districts on the North, by Sivaganga and Tiruchi District on the East, by Madurai district on the South and by Theni and Coimbatore Districts and Kerala State on the West. It is spread over on area of 6266.64 Sq. Km. It comprises of 3 Revenue Divisions, 7 Taluks and 14 Panchayat Unions, According to 2001 Census, its population is 19,18,960.

For a long time, Dindigul town has been associated with Iron locks, Iron safe of good quality and durability.

A lock manufacturing unit under co-operative sector is functioning here. Another industry for which Dindigul is noted is Leather Training. The widely known “Angu Vilas scented Tobacco” and “Roja Supari” are produced in this town and are being sent to various places in our State and outside. It is flourishing industry gives employment to vide section of people.

This district is having a flourishing handloom industry at Chinnalapatti, which is located at 11 Kms away from Dindigul on the Madurai-Dindigul road. Art –Silk sarees and sungudi. Sarees Produced in Chinnalapatti are famous through out India. More than 1000 families are engaged in this Industry.Dindigul city which is an important wholesale market for Onion and Groundnut has the network of inter-district roads connecting Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruchi, Karur, Madurai and Sivaganga District.

Educationally, Dindigul is a well developed and popular city. It has got many High and Higher Secondary Schools to its credit. St.Marry’s Higher Secondary School, a well disciplined Institution is one of the oldest institutions in this city. This district has the credit of having two Universities, viz, Mother Theresa University for Women at Kodaikanal and Gandhigram Rural Deemed University at Gandhigram. Also a number of Engineering Colleges, Arts & Science Colleges, Politechnics, ITIs are available through-out the district. This district is privileged to have one of the “Six Celebrated Hill Abodes of “Lord Muruga” at Palani Hills, where the famous Dhandayuthapani Temple is situated on the hilly rock at a height of about 450 mts.Thousands of pilgrims come down to this holy temple every day particularly during festival days, like “Thaipoosam, Adi-kiruthigai, Panguni Uthiram, Sura-samharam, Vaikasi-visagam and monthly Karthigai". Provision of three Electric Winches, the first of its kind in India is unique feature of this temple. It facilitates the aged, children and the disabled to reach the temple in 8 minutes. The income of the temple, which is the Largest in the State, is growing year by year.

Besides this famous Murugan Temple, there is also another Murugan temple at Thirumalaikeni, 25 Km. away from Dindigul town which is becoming a growing pilgrim centre. Abirami Amman temple in Dindigul town and Raja Kaliamman Temple at Thethupatti 20 Km. away from Dindigul are the other important Temples which attract several thousand pilgrims. Kodaikkanal, a popular Summer Resort, located at an altitude of 2133 meters in the Western Ghats is the “Princess of Hill Stations”. A notable feature of this Hillock is “Kurunji” flowers blooming once in 12 years . Next blooming in the year 2006. It is also famous for potato cultivation.

Peranai and Sirumalai are the two fine picnic spots of this district. There are four dams viz, Palar Porundalar, Varathamanathi, , Parappalar in Palani Taluk and Maruthanathi in Dindigul Taluk augment irrigation facilities to agricultural fields in this district. Nilakkottai town is famous for Brass Vessels and Jewellery. Nilakkottai Taluk is famous for the growing and marketing of flowers and Grapes. Oddanchatram is a noted market centre for vegetables. It is also famous for the export of Butter, manufactured in the nearby villages using cream separators. Batlagundu is an important market centre for Tomato. Pattiveeranpatti in Vathalagundu Block is famous for Cardamom and Coffee curing enterprises.

Climate and Rainfall
The climate of the Dharmapuri District is generally warm. The hottest period of the year is generally from the months of March to May , the highest temperature going up to 38 C in April. The Climate becomes cool in December and continuous so up to February, touching a minimum of 17 C in January. On an average the District receives an annual rainfall of 895.56 mm.

Soil
The Soil type ranges from black to mixed loam; Red sandy soils are seen in Harur Taluk. Black and loam soil are found in Dharmapuri Taluk. Generally the soil is low in Nitrogen and Phosphate content with no marked variation between Taluks