International Level
Although the present study is centred on the socio-economic conditions of the
people in Vellimalai, Kanyakumari district, its implication and relevance extend
beyond national boundaries. Rural and semi-rural communities around the
world, particularly in developing countries, face similar social and economic
challenges. Thus, this study holds international significance in the following
ways:
1. Comparative Rural Development: The socio-economic issues observed in
Vellimalai, such as rural poverty, limited employment opportunities, lack of
healthcare and education, mirror conditions in rural areas of other countries like
Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Indonesia. This allows for comparative analysis
of rural development strategies adopted worldwide.
2. Contribution to Global Research: The findings of this study contribute to
global academic and policy research on poverty, rural livelihoods, education,
and public health. It provides a micro-level perspective that can enhance macro-
level discussions on sustainable rural development.
3.Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This study is directly related to several UN SDGs
Goal 1: No poverty
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 8: Decent work and Economic Growth
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
4. International policy Implications
Organizations such as the World Bank, UNDP, and FAO support rural
development globally. The study's local challenges identified in this study, such
as inadequate infrastructure, income inequality, and lack of social awareness, are
key focus areas for international policy framing initiatives.
5. Cultural preservation and Indigenous Rights
The Vellimalai region also includes rich tribal and temple-based cultural heritage,
making this study relevant to international efforts to protect indigenous identities,
local knowledge systems, and minority rights, as outlined documents like the UN
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Unit-II
Methodology
The present study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design to assess
the socio-economic conditions of the people in Vellimalai. The methodology
outlines the procedures used for data collection, sampling, and analysis.
i) Study Area
The research is conducted in Vellimalai, a semi-rural locality in the Kanyakumari
district of Tamil Nadu, known for its religious significance and agricultural
activities.
ii) Research Design
A descriptive research design is employed to gather detailed information on the
living conditions, income sources, education levels, and health status of the
residents.
iii) Nature of Data
The study uses both primary and secondary data
primary Data: collected the field surveys using structured questionaries,
interviews and personal observations.
Secondary Data: obtained from Government reports, census records,
Panchayat office documents, and previous research studies.
iv) sample size and sampling technique:
A total of 100 households from vellimalai were selected for
the study
A random sampling method was used to ensure fair representation
across different economic and social groups.
v) Tools for Data collection:
Questionnaire consisting of both open- ended and closed - ended
questions
Interview schedule for in- depth understanding of individual
perceptions and experiences
v) Tools for Data collection:
Questionnaire consisting of both open- ended and closed – ended questions
Interview schedule for in-depth understanding of individual perceptions
and exceptions
vi) Tools for data analysis:
Collected data was classified,tabulated and analyzed using simple
statistical tools such as:
Percentages
Averages
Charts and graphs(if needed)
Qualitative responses were grouped thematically
vii) Limitations of the study:
The study is limited to the geographical area of Vellimalai.
Time and resource constraints restricted the sample size.
Some respondents may have hesitated to share complete financial or
personal information.
Questionnaire
1. Name of the respondent:
2. Age:
3. Gender:
4. Marital status:
5. Number of family members:
6. Type of family:
☐ Nuclear
☐ Joint
☐ Extended
7. What is your highest educational qualification?
☐ Illiterate
☐ Primary
☐ Middle
☐ Secondary
☐ Higher Secondary
☐ Graduate and above
8. Are your Children Currently attending School?
☐ Yes
☐ No
9. If not, Why?
☐ Financial reason
☐ Distance
☐ Not interested
☐ Others : _______________________
10. What is your primary occupation?
☐ Agriculture
☐ Daily wage labour
☐ Government job
☐ Private job
☐ Self-employed
☐ Unemployed
11. Monthly household income: ₹ _______________________
12. Do you have any secondary source of income?
☐ Yes (Specify): _______________________
☐ No
13. Does anyone in your family work outside the district/state?
☐ Yes
☐ No
14. Type of house:
☐Kutcha
☐Semi-pucca
☐Pucca
15. Ownership of house:
☐Owned
☐Rented
☐Government allotment
16. Availability of toilet facilities:
☐ Yes
☐ No
17. Do you own the following (tick all that apply):
☐ TV
☐ Mobile phone
☐ Motorbike
☐ Refrigerator
☐ Tractor
☐ Computer/Laptop
18. Do you own any land?
☐ Yes (Area: ___ acres)
☐ No
19. Main crops cultivated (if any): ___________
20. Are you using modern agricultural methods?
☐ Yes
☐ No
21. Do you have access to clean drinking water?
☐ Yes
☐ No
22. Electricity connection at home:
☐ Yes
☐ No
23. Nearest health care center distance: ___ km
24. Have you benefited from any government schemes?
☐ Yes (Mention name): ___________
☐ No
25. Are you a member of any self-help group (SHG)?
☐ Yes
☐ No
26. Do you participate in village meetings or panchayat decisions?
☐ Yes
☐ No
27. What are the major problems in your locality:
☐ Unemployment
☐ Water Scarcity
☐ Poor roads
☐Health issues
☐ Others: _______________________________________
Review of Literature:
The study of socio-economic conditions has been a central theme in social
sciences, especially when assessing rural and semi-urban communities like
Vellimalai. Several researchers have explored various aspects such as income
distribution, education, health and standard of living in similar regional settings.
1. Dandekar and Rath (1971):
In their annual study on poverty in India highlighted how rural areas are often
affected by seasonal employment, low productivity in agriculture, inadequate
access to education and healthcare, all of which contribute to persistent poverty.
2. Kurian (1995):
Focused on the socio-economic conditions in South Indian coastal and hilly
regions including parts of Tamil Nadu, noting the disparities in development and
access to resources in tribal and rural pockets.
3. Mahadevan (2004):
Studied the socio-economic profiles of temple-centered towns in Tamil Nadu
and found that religious tourism often supplements local economies but fails to
create sustainable development unless properly integrated with local planning.
4. Rajendran and Joseph (2010):
Conducted a field survey in Tamilnadu and observed that although literacy and
human development rates were high compared to the national average,
unemployment and underemployment remained a major issue among rural youth.
5. Subramanian (2015)
In his research on village economics in Tamilnadu emphasized the role of
government welfare schemes like MGNREGA and public distribution system in
enhancing the quality of life in rural areas though their impact varied based on
local implementation.
Scope of the study:
The present study is an attempt to understand the socio-economic conditions of
the people living in Vellimalai, a semi-rural locality. The study covers multiple
aspects of the activities, access to basic facilities, and overall standard of living
National level scope:
The Scope Socio-Economic Conditions of Rural India encompasses the
combined social and economic attributes that define people's livelihoods, well-
being, and opportunities across the country's village and small-town
populations.This includes
Income and poverty levels, patterns of consumption and inequality
Occupation and poverty levels, patterns of employment structures
including land, agriculture, labour and enterprise
Education, literacy and skills development
Health, sanitation, and access to public services
Assets and living standards including housing quality, ownership of
vehicles, appliances, and credit cards.
Social inclusion:caste/gender-based disparities and access to welfare
Utilization of government schemes (e.g., MGNREGA, PMAGY, PMAY)
Trends and changes over time, especially comparing current status with
past decades.
