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 : 427
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : B
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 528 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : NA
Minority : Does not figure in MCD

Brief About Goa South District
Goa attained statehood on May 30, 1987. Goa was included as twenty-fifth state of India. Goa state has two districts namely North Goa headquarter at Panaji and South Goa headquarter at Margao.

a) Location
South Goa District covers the entire southern part of Goa state. Arabian sea is to the west of district, North Goa district to the North and Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka in the East and South. South Goa is situated between the latitudinal paralles of 15 degree 29' 32" N and 14 degree 53' 57" N and longitudimal parallels of 73degree 46' 21" E and 74 degree 20' 11" E. From noth to south and from east to west the district spans a distance of 86 kms and 40 kms respectively. The total geographical area of the district is 1966 sq kms..

b) Geography
Goa is a part of Konkan area. Goa has hills, low and highland areas. Geographically Goa has mainly three natural divisions namely the Low lands, the Plateaus and the Mountain region.

Low Lands : Low land area is mainly coastal lines. It is about 110 km long. Many beaches are along the coast in this area. Many rivers flow east to east in this area therefore this area land is fertile. This area is thickly populated.

Plateau Lands : The plateau region is found between the mountain region in the east and the lowlands in the west. Plateau land height ranges from 30 metres to 100 metres. In this region mainly plenty of laterite stone is found. It is used for building the houses. Some of the part of plateau land is called headland of Goa. Light houses are built on these healdlands. Land in the plateau region is not fertile, few crops are taken in this region.

Mountain region : Sahyadri mountains are to the east of South Goa. This part is covered with dense forest. In this area, some of the mountains are very steep. In the South Goa peaks are Chandranath at Paroda, Dudhsagan in Sanguem taluka and Cormolghant in Canacona taluka. Many streams and rivers flows from this region to lowands. In South Goa rivers are Zuari, Talpona, Sal and Galgibag. Rivers are used for transporation. Inland waterways play an important role in transport of minreal ores from the mining sites in Sanguem taluka such as Costi, Kirpal, Netravalim, Rivona, Ducorcond and Kuddegal to the Mormugao harbour for export South Goa is rich in natural resources like trees, iron and manganese ore. It is exported mainly to Japan, South Korea and some European countires.

c) Access
Goa is well connected by road, rail, water and air ways. In Goa there are three main national highways N.H.4A, N.H.17, N.H.17A. Panaji, the capital city of Goa is connected by N.H.4A from Belgaum in Karnataka. The N.H.17 starts in Mahad in Maharastra state and enters in Goa through Patradevi and passes through talukas Pernem, Bardez, Tiswadi, Salcete and Canacona talukas. Third highway, N.H.17A is from Cortalim to Mormugao harbour. Cities Panaji and Margao are well connected by road from Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Miraj cities in Maharashtra and Banglore, Belgaum, Hubali cities in Karnataka.

Goa is connected by rail route through Konkan Railway and Southern Railway from Delhi. Also, it is well connected by air routes from Bombay and Delhi. Goa has an international airport at Dabolim. The distance from Margao to Dabolim airport is 29 kms.

Most of the rivers in Goa are used for waterways. Ferry boats were means of crossing rivers in Goa. Rivers Mandovi and Zuari are being used for carrying ore to Mormugao harbour. Goa is also connected by waterway from Bombay.

d) Climate
Goa has hot climate as it lies within the tropics. There is no much change in climate throught the year. Daily temperature range is not very high. Goa gets rains in the months June, July, August and September. June-September is the mansoon season here. The rainfall is more in the mountain region than the coastal region. Goa gets heavy rain from South-West monsoon winds. Goa has cool climate during then months October-January. It starts geting warmer from February and it remains till May.

Rice is the most important crop in Goa. Due to warm humid climate rice is mainly grown here and it grown in the coastal region. After rainy season, rice, chillies, onions crops are grown in Goa. Cash crops are also grown in Goa. Mainly plantation of Cashew, Coconut, Mangoes, Areca palm, Kokum and Jackfruit is done in Goa.

e) People and Culture
History : According to Ancient Indian Mythology is said that Goa was reclaimed from the sea. It is believed that Sixth Avatar of Vishnu Sage, Parshuram created the Sahyadri range and struck an arrow into the western seas. The arrow is said to have sent the seas rolling back to create Gomantak or Goa.

It is believed that Aryan migrated to Goa around 2400 BC. Original tribals migrated in hills due to Aryan arrival in this part. It is believed that Sumerian civilization was existed dating back 2000 BC. These people introduced their ideas of all types with the result that the ownership of the land vested in the main village diety. The co-operative farming turned into common holdership or villages who were considered to be founders of the village commune and its administration took a form of oligarchic democrocy. The Aryans of the first wave accepted this type of administration and improved upon it.

Mainly Aryans consisted of Bhojas, Chediyas, Kshatriyas and Brahmins were arrived in Goa. Bhojas ruled over Goa from aobout 4th century AD to 6th century AD. It is believed that Brahmins were migrated to Goa by Parashurama from Kasmir and the banks of the river Sarawati. Kadambas also ruled over Goa, they were originally from Karnataka. They ruled from Chandrapura modern Chnador on the banks of the river Khushavati. Rulers from Vijayanagar Empure also ruled over Goa. Muslim rulers also ruled over Goa. It has also impact on the life of the people. Muslim art and architecutre can be seen in buidlings and mosques in Goa.

Goa was under Protuguese rule for about 450 years. Afonso de Albuqureque, first portuguese attacked Goa and occupied it. Due to Portuguese rule over Goa, here Christian religion spread very fast.

In Goa Hindu, Muslim, Christian religions are found. Here temples, churches and mosques are existed in many numbers. All community festivals are celebrated in this state with an enthusiasm.