Rural and Urban Disparities of Scheduled Caste Population: A Study with Special Reference to Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu

The scheduled caste population is being deprived segment of the population, and it is necessary to see its progress in terms of demographic and socio-economic conditions to improve it with the help of existing and innovative programs available with the government and the voluntary organizations so that social and economic equality efforts could be made possible. The percentage of scheduled caste population and the other demographic characteristics such as sex ratio, literacy rate, and work participation rate of Tamil Nadu seem to be desirably high as compared to the national averages of the same. It is found that among 32 districts of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvalluvar district tops with 34 % of scheduled caste population, Tirunelveli tops in sex ratio in total and rural areas, Kanniyakumari tops in literacy rate in total, rural, urban among both males and females, Tiruppur tops in work participation rate both rural and urban areas and more or less among both males and females. Karur district has more male-female differences and Coimbatore district has more urban-rural differences in literacy rate. Chennai district accounts for more male-female differences and Kanniyakumari accounts for more urban-rural differences in the work participation rate. It may be suggested that the District, which has more proportion of scheduled caste population with low sex ratio both in total and child populations and high gender and residential differences in literacy rate and works participation rate may be more concentrated with suitable awareness and reformative social welfare measures.


INTRODUCTION
Scheduled Caste population is one of the underprivileged segments in the total population. There have been many efforts to uplift the scheduled caste population right from the Constitution of India to many social welfare programmes especially for scheduled caste population. It becomes necessary to study and update the demographic and socio-economic conditions of scheduled caste population in order to cope-up with the government efforts.
The District Viluppuram has been found a district with more proportion of scheduled caste population. Based on this reason this piece of research work has been carried out. Viluppuram District was earlier a part of Cuddalore District. It was then bifurcated from Cuddalore and became a separate district on 30th September 1993. Because of this, the history of Viluppuram district closely resembles that of Cuddalore. The Cholas were the early rulers. Among these rulers, Karikala Chola was the most famous and powerful. For a short period, the Cholas were overthrown by Simha Vishnu Pallava and the Region came under the Pallava rule for some time. VijayalayaChola again revived Chola rule. This was the beginning of great Chola Empire. The later Chola rulers were weak and the power passed on to the hands of Eastern Chalukyas. Cholas regained their lost position but with the rise of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya-1 (1251 A.D), Chola supremacy came to an end. The sway of Pandyas lasted for over 50 years, followed by Muslim domination from 1334 to 1378 A.D. By 1378, the region came under the rule of Vijayanagar Kingdom and Nayaks were appointed as the rulers of the region. In 1677 Shivaji took Ginjee area with the assistance of Golkonda forces. Then came the Mughals. During the Mughal regime, both the English and French acquired settlements in South Arcot. During the Anglo-French rivalry, the entire District was turned into a war land. After sometime, the entire area came under the control of East India Company.It remained under British authority till 1947 when India became independent (http://viluppuram.tn.nic.in/historypage.htm). disused in this study at panchayat level. The study found that SC/ST classes have registered highest sex ratio at district level in comparison to the Jaipur district. However the sex ratio of SC/ST population is lower than the state.
Ashok Kumar Lonavath (2014), in his study deals with spatial distribution of SC urban population. The major objectives of this study are to study and examine the Scheduled Caste urban population district wise, regional wise and state wide from 1961to 2011, to identify and examine low and high concentration of Scheduled Caste urban population from 1961-2011, to study the factors responsible for variation in concentration of Scheduled Caste urban population. Based on these objectives, author has generated hypnotises which are; 1. It is assumed that the social and cultural practices have impact on the concentration of Scheduled Caste population in various districts, 2. It is also assumed that geographical factors like geomorphology, land; climate has impact on the concentration of Scheduled Caste population in various districts, 3. It is also assumed that the globalization, urbanization and industrialization have impact on the migration of Scheduled Caste population to urban areas. Secondary data have been used for analysing and interpreting on spatial distribution. Author found that Overall percentage Scheduled Caste population living in urban areas shows decreasing pattern in Telangana region and increasing pattern in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema region. Percentage of Scheduled Caste urban population is high in Telangana up to 1991, Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions show increasing trend in 2001 and 2011. When the overall growth percentages of Scheduled urban Caste population is examined it gives an impression that initially Telangana region had a high percentage but at a later stage growth is taking place more in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions. While Telangana region does not observe much change in percentage of Scheduled Caste urban population, in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema region the percentage is increasing.
Deepak Wankhede (2009) in his study on distributional pattern of Scheduled Caste population in Vidarbha which reflects heterogeneous pattern of development of Individual Social group. He said that spatial distributional Pattern of different scheduled caste group varies from District to District, and their proportion to total population is not uniform. He further said that socially and culturally each scheduled caste group differs and geographically their distributional pattern of population also differs. The co-efficient of Geographic Association between total scheduled caste and individual scheduled caste group indicates the variation in the distribution. Index of Diversification has been used to study the diversification of scheduled castes within the region. Author found that all the individual SC group do not have uniform share in total SC population. Mahar and Mang Caste together has the greatest share of the population as compared to other castes. This study made an attempted spatial distribution patter among Scheduled Caste. Janadhyala B.G. Tilak (1992) has attempted to study the rural urban inequalities in education. the study has given three general presumptions are : (a) the economic returns to investment in education of rural masses are relatively less compared to those of urban workers and hence any public subsidization of education of rural workers can be supported only on noneconomic grounds like social justice; (b) the rural households tend to invest less in the education of their children as they fail to recognize the benefits of education and or as they cannot afford to invest in a long gestation period sector like education; and (c) there exit large earnings differentials between rural and urban workers. All these presumptions are open to question. Based on data collected through a sample survey of the west Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in South India, the above hypotheses have been examined in this paper. The study rejects the first hypothesis and establishes that rates of return to education of rural workers are generally higher than the returns to urban workers, and that investment in education in rural areas is as justified as in urban areas from economic efficiency point of view. The study, without exactly verifying into the factors behind, confirms the latter two hypotheses. The study analysed clearly asserts that investment in education in rural areas is economically as justified as in urban areas, both form individual and the society's points of view.
Veronique Dupont (2004) studied on the pattern of social-spatial differentiation and segmentation of the metropolitan area of Delhi. The main objective of this study is to analyse the mechanisms of residential segregation and the factors that explain it both at the micro and macro level. The study tried to understand in the context of the Indian society and its caste system traditionally associated with strong social and spatial segregation, we try to appraise the extent to which the metropolitanization process in Delhi engenders original forms of spatial segmentation or perpetuates and strengthens the traditional forms of socio-spatial divisions. The study also discussed to analyse the factors that shaped the urban landscape and introduced spatial discontinuity, from physical barriers to the different historic periods and the impact of town planning; to analyse the residential pattern of different segments of the urban population, in order to detect whether certain economic and socio-cultural attributes generate a pattern of segregation. Author pursued a more detailed investigation at the level of a zone, based on the case study of MayurVihar-Trilokpuri in east Delhi. He analysed the residential practices developed by different socio-economic groups, their strategies as regards the occupation of the geographical and economic space, their tendency to residential clustering that leads to a pattern of social segregation at the level of the neighbourhood. In this perspective, the links between the urban policies at the macro-level and the individual residential practices at the micro-level are also examined. Kannupillai (2009) critically examines sociological analysis of caste violence in Tamil Nadu. The book analyzes various causes of caste violence against members the scheduled castes. It discusses the behavior pattern of weaker sections of the society in Tamil Nadu. The author critically examines caste violence between 1997 and 1998. It is found that most of caste violence took place in Virudunagar district. This study has used analytical method from secondary data. Caste violence has been increasing due to lack of legal protection. Radhakrishnan (2002) has written an article on sensitizing officials on Dalits and Reservations in Tamil Nadu. He argues that the dalits have suffered from the lax approach of the state towards extending reservation benefits. He also discusses the legal provision for SC and ST. This study mainly focuses on dalit reservation in Tamil Nadu. He uses 1991 census of India to make his study. He points out that there is close relationship between the level of education and reservation policy. The study highlights that education has a crucial role to play in social mobilization. At the same time, dalits have very poor literacy when compared to non-dalit communities and there is a wide difference among the dalit to make use of admissions in educational institutions. The study finds the data is not sufficiency to make a comparative understanding of the reservation scenario. The author concludes that the Vanniyars and the Thevars have resented reservation for dalits in education sector. His study suggests that the state should create awareness among all social groups with the help of field officers attached to development departments.
All the studies, so far, have concentrated on the extensive field of spatial distribution as well as on urbanization and spatial distribution of scheduled castes population. A few studies argue that spatial distribution of Scheduled Caste is analysed based on geographical location which is not helps to find out reality Socioeconomic status of SC. However, it is to be noted in the context of Tamil Nadu that a comprehensive study of spatial distribution with a focus rural and ruban distribution is an unexplored area. However the Spatial Distribution of Scheduled Caste Population:A Study with Special Reference to Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu has not been taken up for detailed investigation by researchers so far. Hence present research made an attempt to study on spatial distribution of SC population in the perspectives of factors affecting the distribution of population.
Sad -at -Ullah Khan Mosque was erected by Sad -at -Ullah Khan to commemorate his victory over Desingh and the capture of the fort in 1713 A. D. It is located at the entrance of the inner fort of Rajagiri. According to a Persian inscription found here, the mosque is said to have been constructed in 1717 -1718 A. D Kalrayan Hills is one part of the Eastern ghats, lies on the western side of the KallakurichiTaluk. This area spread over an area of 600 sq. kms. Approximately with the height ranging from 1000 ft to 3800 ft from the sea level. The History of Kalrayan hills with its Jagirdars run back to the time of Krishna Deverayar, the Emperor of 'Vijaya Nagar Kingdom'. The emperor Krishna Deverayar given the rights to the tribes to enjoy this land but imposed many taxes on them. About the hill tribes it is said that warriors belonging to Karalar community had come from Kanchipuram and settled in Kalrayan hills.
After sometimes they override the tribal people called 'Vedar' (hunter) and married their wives. The communities of Karalar and Vedar who at present are called 'Malayali' and they call themselves as 'Goundars'. The place is a veritable paradise for trekkers. It is also called as 'Poor man's hill station' of Tamil Nadu. Auroville is an international township. This town of tomorrow now in the making -supported and encouraged by the Government of India, and endorsed by UNESCO -is sited just across the Puducherry border in Viluppuram district. Representing an experiment in international living, it was launched in 1968 at the behest of the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram at an inaugural function attended by representatives of 124 nations and all the States of India. Each inhabitant of Auroville contributes in his or her own way towards building the township (District Hand Book, Villuuram, 2011).
Geographical Position of the Villupuram District lies between 11 38' 25" N and 12 20' 44" S: 78 15' 00" W and 79 42' 55" E with an area of 7222.03 Hec. It was carved out from the South Arcot District on 30.09.1993 and was rechristened as Viluppuram District. The residual part of the erstwhile South Arcot district was named as Cuddalore District.It is surrounded on East and South by Cuddalore District. The West by Salem and Dharmapuri District and on the North by Thiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram District. The General geological formation of the District appears to be simple. The greater part of it is covered by the metamorphic rocks belonging to Genesisfamily. There are also three great groups of sedimentary rocks belonging to different geological periods. The Kalrayan Hills in the North represents a continuous range of hills covered with some thorny forests and vegetation. Among the hills, the most beautiful part of the district lies, round about the Gingee Hills. The District does not get heavy rainfall with the exception of Marakanam and Vanur Blocks, while in Kandamangalam and Koliyaur blocks, the rainfall is moderate it is scarcity in Kallakurichi and Sankarapuram. The actual total rainfall for the year 2002-03 is 617.4mm against 1030 mm of normal rainfall. The percentage of deviation is (-) 38.9 mm.  The District has a variety of historical tourist attractions many of which are more than1500 years old. First, Rock cut temple of King Mahendra Verma Pallava is located at Mandagapattu village near Gingee. The very big Rock cut temple called Sathru Malleshwara Alayam of first King Mahendra Verma Pallava is located at Thalavanur village near Gingee Fort within 15 km., on the way from Gingee to Villupuram. The District has temples, mosques and churches which are very old and famous. Veedur Dam is located between the Tindivanam and Villupuram Highway. Gomuki Dam is constructed in Kachirayapalayam near Kallakkurichi. Two falls are located near the same area: Megam falls (6 km from Kachirayapalayam) and Periyarfalls. In addition to this the cultural township of Auroville is situatedinthisdistrict. Thiruvakkarai is a village near Pondicherry. Geological Survey of India has undertaken most of the parts of this village for the valuable fossils it had. In India, it is the only village having fossils of a petrified tree. KabilarKundru or Kabilar rock is a hill rock in the middle of the Pennaiyar River near Thirukoilur in this District. It is where the great Tamil poet Kapilar who did Vadakirrutal (fast unto death, facing north) after his friend VelPari was killed in a battle. It is one of the protected monuments in Tamil Nadu by the Archeological Survey of India.
Out of Total geographical area of 722203 Ha, 500639 Ha fall under the category of gross areas own which is 69.32 percent in total geographical area. The District has a predominant proportion of marginal farmers followed by small farmers. Large farmers were hardly noticed. It can, therefore, be stated that a vast majority of the farmers in the District are marginal and small farmers. The area owned by the marginal farmers across the block varies between 26 and 62 percent while that of small farmers across the block varies between 25 and 33 percent. The area owned by medium farmers was less than 30 percent in many blocks. Thus a vast area of land is owned by marginal and small farmers. The economy of the District is predominantly agricultural. The major crops grown in the District are paddy, groundnut, sugarcane, cumbu, gingelly and tapioca. Out of the total geo graphical area of 7.22 lakh hectares, the net areas own was 3.31 lakh hectares. Sericulture is coming up in this District in a modest way. It is being undertaken in Addukam, Avalurpet, Manandal, Athipattu, Kolappalur, Kanai, Kedar, Olakkur, Melvalai, Sembiama Devi and Chinnasalem.
The District has a coastal length of 32 kms. Vanur and Marakkanam blocks fall under coastal zone of the District. The active fishermen population of the District is 2986.They have been organized into fishermen cooperatives. The District also has a few fisher women cooperatives. The District has 18 brackish water aquaculture farms. The scope for inland fisheries in the District is very much limited. Inland fishing is mostly practised in tanks and reservoirs owned by the Public Works Department.
The rivers in the District are seasonal, hence, the major sources of irrigation are tube wells and open dug wells. The net irrigated area in the District is 2.45 lakh hectares which constitutes 33.9 percent of the total geographical area of the District and 45.90 percent of the net cultivated area. Irrigation through rivers accounts for less than five percent of the total irrigated area. The District largely depends on ground water and tanks. Out of the 2.48 lakh hectare meters of utilized water, the recharge of around 2.05 lakh hectare meters have already been utilized leaving a balance of 0.43 lakh hectare meters which can be economically exploited. The pattern of irrigation over a period shows that the proportion of area cultivated through tanks and wells and tube wells have come down. The areas irrigated through other sources have increased considerably. The major rivers of the District are Gadilam, Malattar, Pennar(Thenpennai), Sankaraparani and Komuki. Gadilam River flows through Thirukoilur Taluk.Malattarriver joins Gadilam before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Pennar River flows through Thirukoilur and Villupuram Taluks. Sankaraparani rises in Gingee Taluk and flows through Villupuram Taluk. The rivers are mostly seasonal, carrying flood waters. None of them is perennial. These rivers could not be used for irrigation purpose to the expected level because of low precipitation. Veedur, Manimuktha and Komuki reservoirs are located in this District. Water from these reservoirs is used for irrigation purposes only.

DATA AND METHOD
This study uses the data from Census of India 2011. A simple bi-variate analysis has been used to realise the objectives of the study. Tamil Nadu with reference to  Viluppuram District. 2. To examine the sex ratio in total and child population of scheduled castes by residence in Tamil Nadu with reference to Viluppuram District.

To study the levels of scheduled caste population by residence in
3. To understand the literacy levels of the scheduled caste population by sex and residence in Tamil Nadu with reference to Viluppuram District.
4. To demarcate the work participation rate of the scheduled caste population by sex and residence in Tamil Nadu with reference to Viluppuram District.

Scheduled Caste Population
The percentage of scheduled caste population is more (20 %) than the national average (16.6 %). Among 32 districts of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvalluvar district tops with 34 % followed by The Nilgiris, Nagappattinam, Perambalur, Villuppuram, Cuddaore, Kancheepuram, Ariyalur, Tiruvannamalai and Thiruvallur. Both in rural and urban areas also, Tamil Nadu has more proportion of Scheduled Caste population. However, the proportion of SC population ranges from 38 % in Thiruvarur to 29 % in Thiruvallur in rural areas, whereas it ranges from 34 % to 16 % in the same respective districts (Table 1 and Figures 1a, 1b and 1c).

Sex Ratio of Scheduled Caste Population
The sex ratio of total scheduled caste population is more (1004) than the national average (945). Tirunelvel district tops in the sex ratio (1038) followed by The Nilgiris, Karur, Vellore, Tiruchirappalli, Nagappattinam, Kanniyakumari, Thanjavur, Thoothukkudi and Pudukkottai. As far as the sex ratio among scheduled caste population in rural and urban areas are concerned, the same trend is noticed Tamil Nadu having more sex ratio as compared to the national averages even the districts are also of same pattern. The child sex ratio of Tamil Nadu is also higher (958) as compared to national average (933). Tirunelveli district tops (995) in the state followed by The Nilgiris, Karur, Vellore, Tiruchirappalli, Nagappattinam, Kanniyakumari, Thanjavur, Thoothukkudi and Pudukkottai (968). It has been found that the child sex ratio of Tamil Nadu in urban areas is more as compared to rural areas. In sex ratio of both rural and areas, it ranges from Tirunelveli (998 and 993 respectively) to Pudukkottai (968 and 970 respectively) ( Table 2 and Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f).

Literacy Rate among Scheduled Caste Population
The literacy rate among scheduled caste population of Tamil Nadu is higher (73 %) as compared to the national average of the same (66 %). Kanniyakumari district tops in the literacy rate (89 %) followed by Chennai, The Nilgiris, Thoothtukkudi,Vellore,Tiruchirappalli,Thiruvallur,Kancheepuram,Nagappattinam,and Thanjavur (76.3 %). The same trend of literacy rate with respective to its range and districts is noticed both in rural and urban areas also. The female literacy rate among scheduled caste population ranges from a high of 86 % in kanniyakumari to a low of 52 % in Erode. Urban-rural difference in literacy rate among the districts of Tamil Nadu ranges from 17 percentage points in Coimbatore to 0 percentage points in Kanniyakumari and 3.9 percentage points in Theni district. As far as the male-female difference in literacy rate is concerned, Tamil Nadu has the lower percentage points (15.3) as compared to the national average (19). Among the districts of Tamil Nadu, it ranges from 18.6 percentage points in Karur to 6.8 percentage points in Kanniyakumari district (Table  3 and Figures 3a, 3b and 3c).

Work Participation Rate among Scheduled Caste Population
The work participation rate in Tamil Nadu both in rural and urban areas is higher as compared to that of the national averages. Tiruppur district tops in work participation rate (57 %) followed by Erode, Perambalur, Namakal, Karur, Dindigul, virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and The Nilgiris. As far as the work participation rate in rural and urban areas is concerned, it is more in rural areas in the state, national average and in all the districts of Tamil Nadu (Table 4 and Figures 4a, 4b and 4c).

CONCULSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
The scheduled caste population is being deprived segment of the population, it is necessary to see its progress in terms of demographic and socio-economic conditions so as to improve it with the help of existing and innovative programmes available with the government and the voluntary organizations so that social and economic equality efforts could be made possible. The percentage of scheduled caste population and the other demographic characteristics such as sex ratio, literacy rate and work participation rate of Tamil Nadu seem to be desirably high as compared to the national averages of the same.
It was found that among 32 districts of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvalluvar district tops with 34 % of scheduled caste population, Tirunelveli tops in sex ratio in total and rural areas, Kanniyakumari tops in literacy rate in total, rural, urban among both males and females, Tiruppur tops in work participation rate both rural and urban areas and more or less among both males and females. Karur district has more male-female difference and Coimbatore district has more urban-rural difference in literacy rate. Chennai district accounts for more male-female difference and Kanniyakumari accounts more urban-rural difference in work participation rate.
It may be suggested that the District which have more proportion of scheduled caste population with low sex ratio both in total and child populations and high gender and residential differences in literacy rate and work participation rate may be more concentrated with suitable awareness and reformative social welfare measures.