-
Change in agricultural technology: Irrigation
In 1950 tank irrigated 40% of the net irrigated areas in TN. Now its reduced to less than 20%.
The share of wells increased from 25% to 50%
Tank irrigation is an common feature of South Indian cultural landscape. There are 39,000 tanks in TN. Most of the tanks were built during 18th and 19th centuries -
Period: to
Rural to Urban migration
-
Emergence of regional party
Local political party own the election throwing away the national party -
Green revolution
Green revolution introduced in 1960 mainly in North India. confined to wheat crop
Food self sufficiency reached in 1970. However it doesnt lead to upliftment of rural living standards in the country as a whole -
Public distribution system (PDS)
PDS was introduced in India mid 1960's. The aim is to distribute basic commodities like rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene through a network of fair price shops nationwide Used to be universal -
Mid-day meals program
Free noon meals to school children up to 10th standard.
In 1982 it was renamed as nutritious mid - day meal program -
Chinese invasion оf India іn 1962
the Chinese invasion оf India іn 1962 led tо the demand fоr Dravida Nadu losing sоme оf іts immediacy. -
Anti Hindi movement
Tamil Nadu protest against nationalist government. DMK won the election -
Tamil Nadu was created
The Madras state wаs named Tamil Nadu (the land оf the Tamils) іn 1968. -
Sri Lankan Tamils fleeing tо Tamil Nadu
During 1970s аnd 80s saw large numbers оf Sri Lankan Tamils fleeing tо Tamil Nadu -
Food self sufficiency
-
declining trend in area under cereals
Late 1970s saw the decline in area under cereals -
Increase in Irrigation efficiency
The shift from bullock power to electricity resulted in increase in irrigation efficiency -
DMK split іntо twо
DMK and AIADMK. Since then these twо parties hаve dominated the politics оf Tamil Nadu. -
Green revoluion - 2nd phase
Second green revolution covered all the agricultural crops including rice and almost all rural areas
substantial impact on raising rural income and alleviating poverty
1980 - 1990 green revolution in rice made progress in TN -
Maize: Area under maize cultivation increased
During late 1980's area under maize production showed increasing trend. The increasing in trend is due to demand of maize as poultry feed. -
Electrification of wells
Well irrigation gained prominence -
Increase in the yield of cereals
Mid 1980's saw the increase in cereals yield but the yield started to decline in late 1990s -
Integrated Rural Development Programme
IRDP was introduced in Madurai in 1980s.
IRDP offer micro-credit through public commercial banks to villagers -
Spread of tractors and power tillers
Tractors and power tillers replaced the traditional farming by bullocks -
Village agricultural officer
Creation of Village Agricultural Officer post -
Electricity free of charge
Use of electricity for agriculture become free of charge, that encouraged over exploitation of ground water -
The electoral decline оf Congress party аt the national level
-
Decline in tank irrigation institutions
Decline in tank irrigation due to, a) rapid growth in non-agricultural sectors b) drought in 1995
Later 3 years of continuos severe drought during 2001/02 - 2003/04 resulted in lack of employment opporunities to tank manager called Neerkaatis who played key role in tank management. -
Detirioration of tank institution
The other reason for the deterioration of tank institution is, increase in land prices especially after the year 2000 resulted in housing developers buying/occupying land including tank areas either legally or illegally. The occupation of tank foreshore results in blockage of water supply to the tanks
The other reasons were, increase in numbers of small tenant farmers and watermanager renting land resulting in tank losing their manager (water - turners) -
Bullock plowing disappeared
The custom of plowing farmland by bullocks disappeared in mid 1990s -
Rural to urban migration
The economic liberalization and fast growth of non agricultural sectors resulted in villagers moving from rural areas to urban areas -
AIADMK won the election
AIADMK won the election ( 1990-96) then again won in 2001-06 -
Self Help Group
SHG was introduced in Madurai in 1990
SHG is a mutual help system for rural poor women where members mobilize savings from its members and lend money back to members themselves at a low interest rate. SHG will be monitored by an NGO at initial stages. -
Economic liberalization
Indian economy started growing fast led by the growth of non agricultural sectors
Shift of labor force from agriculture to nonagricultural sectors
Agricultural stagnation that resulted in wide disparity between rural and urban areas -
Panchayat Raj
The 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution in 1992 strengthened Panchayat raj institution -
Agriculture decline
The share of agriculture in NSDP declined from 25.6% in 1993/94 to 13.2% in 2007/08 -
Stagnation of agriculture in TN
Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) during 1994/95 - 2006/07 was 6.1 per annum but the agricultural sector grow at only 2.5% -
smaller political parties began tо gain popular support
-
DMK won the election
DMK won the election (1996- 2001) then again in 2006 - 11 -
Targeted PDS
Targeted PDS was introduced. The households were divided in to Abover Poverty Level (APL) and Below Poverty Level (BPL). The BPL families get priority in getting basic necessities -
Increase in rice consumption
Distribution of good quality rice through Public Distribution System (PDS) resulted in increase in consumption of rice, replacing cereal consumption.
It can be safely said that early 1980s until early part of the 2000s was the gradual shift in consumption from cereal to rice -
Decline in rice production
Rice production started declining
The area under rice also shows a declining trend
The other reason for the decline in rice production was; the drought resistant varieites released were poor in yield and were high priced -
Antyodaya Anna Yojona
Another category of poorest group called Antyodaya Anna Yojana was introduced. The aim is to create hunger free India. It is estimated that 5% of population are unable to get two square meals a day, It is this 5% of out population which constitutes the target group of Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
Providing them 35 kilos of rice and wheat at Rs.2 per kg -
continuous severe drought for 3 years
Continuous severe drought for 3 years during 2001/02-2003/04 induced tank manager called neerkattis look for alternative employment -
Negative growth of agriculture
During 2001/02-2003/04 agriculture recorded negative growth due to Drought
Rice production in 2003/04 recorded lowest in the last half century due to drought -
Indira Awas Yojana
Subsidy program for the poor for construction of house. The amount of subsidy per household is Rs. 70, 000 -
tsunami
the impact of 2004 tsunami on the rural farm households -
Indian Ocean earthquake
The east coast оf Tamil Nadu wаs оne оf the areas affected by the Indian Ocean earthquake оf 2004, during whіch almost 8000 people died іn the disaster -
Introduction of combine harvesters
Combine harvesters were introduced for rice harvesting in 2004 -
Caste based educational and employment reservation for lower caste
The widespread application оf caste based affirmative action caused the state tо hаve 69% оf аll educational аnd employment vacancies tо be reserved tо the backward castes -
NREGS
In 2005 it was introduced in a limited area. In 2006 it was introduced nationwide.
Any person aged over 18 years and are willing to work are guaranteed an 100 days employment at a daily wage rate of Rs. 80 regardless of gender -
Busy with drinking water
The engineers responsbile for drinking water and tank were mostly devoted their time for drinking water management than tank rehabilitation -
Old age pension scheme
The old age pension scheme introduced in Tamil Nadu
Beneficiary will get Rs 400 per month for life. The criteria is one must be without sons and over 40 years old -
Sivagami Ammaiyar Memorial Girl Child Protection Scheme
The aim is to promote family planning, eradicating female infanticide, promoting welfare of girl children in poor families. The scheme is divided in to two: In scheme I, family who have one girl child will get Rs. 22,200 and it will be deposited in the bank till the girl child become adult
In scheme II, family having two girl child will be given Rs. 15, 200 -
Rice for Rs 1
The TN government was distributing rice to poor at a rate of Rs 1/kg (The market price was 25/kg)
Rs 1 = 0.017 -
Increase in labor cost
The wage were paid in kind to rice laborers.
In 2007, four marakkals (1 marakkal equals 4.25 - 4.50 kg of paddy)
In 2002 it been 3 marakkals
In 1997 its been 2 marakkals