Social, Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 440
Sex Ratio Rank : 534
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : A
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : NA
Literacy Ratio : 17 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD

Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
In Kanyakumari, majority of people are poor.
Rivers are polluted. We do not get clean drinking water.
Acute water shortage
In 2004, Tsunami washed away many villages of Kanyakumari. People where left homeless. After Tsunami we had to face lot of hardships. People still are struggling to survive.

Brief About Kanyakumari District
Surrounded by Majestic Hills and the plains bordered by colourful sea-shores, fringed with coconut trees and paddy fields, here and there are few elevated patches of red cliffs with undulating valleys and plains between the mountainous terrain and the sea - coast, so closely interwoven with Temples and Churches and other edifices lies the district, 'Kanyakumari'. ( The district name is spelled as ' Kanniyakumari ' in official records which is in tune with the spoken name of the district in Tamil language) . With an area of 1672 sq.km. it occupies 1.24% of the total extent of Tamil Nadu. It ranks first in literacy among other districts in Tamil Nadu.

Location
Kanyakumari is the southern most district of Tamil Nadu. The district lies between 77^o 15^' and 77^o 36^' of the eastern longitudes and 8^o 03^' and 8^o 35^' of the northern Latitudes. The District is bound by Tirunelveli District on the North and the east. The South Eastern boundary is the Gulf of Mannar. On the South and the South West, the boundaries are the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. On the West and North West it is bound by Kerala.

Climate
The District has a favourable agro-climatic condition, which is suitable for growing a number of crops. The proximity of equator, its topography and other climate factors favour the growth of various crops.The paddy varieties grown in the second crop season in Thovalai and Agasteeswaram taluks are grown during the first crop season in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. This shows that there is distinct variation in the climatic conditions prevailing within the district. Unlike other district in Tamil Nadu, it has a rainfall both during the South West and the North East monsoons. The South West monsoon period starts from the month of June and ends in September, While the North East monsoon period starts from October and ends in the middle of December. The average rainfall is as shown .

People & Culture
The people are the human resource of the District. Their culture, religion, aptitude,habits, beliefs, talents etc have a bearing on how the district presents itself to others. Tamil and Malayalam are the main languages of this district. Hindus and Christians form a sizeable percentage of the population of the district and there are a number of Muslims dominated belts in the district. The caste system in the Society has weakened to a great extent especially after independence because of growth of education and improvements in transport and communication. Some of the communities in the district are Nadars, Nanjil Nadu Vellalars, Paravas, Mukthavas, Vilakki Thalanayar, Kammalar or Asari, Nairs, Chackarevars, Kerala Mudalis etc. Rice is the staple food of the rich and poor alike in the district. Some among the poorer section also use tapioca. Beverages like tea and coffee are widely spread even in to the rural area of the district.

Sea enters villages in Kanyakumari
May 20, 2005
Seawater reportedly entered 10 coastal villages in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district on Friday, damaging some 700 huts. The waves came at high tide and injured seven people, who were admitted to nearby hospitals, district collector Sunil Paliwal's office said.