The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Will there be a follow-up this time?

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Saturday, Mar 26, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Will there be a follow-up this time?

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, MARCH 25. What do the southern districts lack? They do have some key resources, a few basic industries, both physical and social infrastructure as also good road and rail connectivity.

The question arises why industrialisation has been so slow in the seven districts down south.

Successive Governments have tried to look at the problems. The previous DMK regime even appointed a commission to study the issues which block further development of the region.

But nothing concrete has happened, though major projects are under implementation. It is in this context that the State Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) set up a task force to study the prospects of industrialisation. Its report was released on Thursday. Industries Minister Nainar Nagenthran has agreed to get an inter-departmental committee to study the report to initiate follow-up action.

`Needed new thrust'

Sources in the CII say nothing is lacking in the south — basic infrastructure is in place; the Madurai-Tirunelveli belt has become an education hub; Tuticorin figures among the 10 major ports; power availability appears satisfactory and quite a few industrial clusters function in the region. It needs a new thrust, more industries, strengthening of infrastructure and a State Government initiative to "make things happen."

Analysing demographic and economic indicators, the report says that except for Tuticorin, Virudhunagar and Madurai coming close, the districts fall well below the State average in the per capita National Domestic Product.

But in terms of Human Development Index, the districts do not lag behind. Tuticorin and Kanyakumari do even better than the State as well as national average. (see table)

Education infrastructure

Madurai and Tirunelveli boast of universities and all seven districts have a large number of schools, colleges and even professional institutions. There are over 10,000 schools and colleges including 58 professional institutions.

Migration

An interesting sidelight, according to Railway sources, is that the moment booking opens — normally 60 days ahead of the date of journey — all tickets to Chennai and north of the State capital get reserved within the first couple of hours at Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. That seems to be the scale of migration, which came in for comment in the demographic studies, with women outnumbering the men in some districts.

The region witnessed social and even communal tensions, which administrators attribute to the slow pace of development and lack of employment opportunities.

Now that the report is with the Government, trade and industry are looking to it to provide a new thrust and initiative to industrial development of the "neglected region." If the State steps in with a focus, the private sector will not be found wanting, say the CII sources.

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