Thamarankottai

Society

Like any other typical village in Tamil Nadu country side, majority of the people in Thamarankottai belong to the farming community and the rest of them play supporting roles. The society is organized mainly on caste lines. Caste plays a vital role in social life and caste determines people's social status irrespective of their economic status.

Population

According to the latest census done by Government of India, Thamarankottai North has 6,031 people (2,872 Males and 3,159 Females) in 1,460 households. Thamarankottai South has 4,499 people (2,156 Males and 2,343 Females) in 1,110 households.

Agriculture and economy

Agriculture has been the mainstay of the village economy. Thamarankottai is situated at the tail end of the new delta region of Cauvery irrigation scheme. This scheme was introduced in this region during the 1930s through Cauvery Mettur Project (CMP) canal and prior to this agriculture was only rainfed. Rice based cropping system was predominant with rice – rice – pulse or groundnut sequence, during Kuruvai, Thaladi and Summer seasons, respectively. In some spots where tank (lake) irrigation possibility was available rice – rice – rice (three rice crops) sequence was also practiced during Kuruvai, Thaladi and Summer seasons, respectively. Irrigated agriculture flourished and brought wealth to the farmers until the late 1970s and early 1980s and afterward due to the interstate dispute on sharing of Cauvery water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the reach of river water to the tail end canals of Tamarankottai became uncertain and if at all reaches it is only unseasonal. Therefore, to keep the mainstay profession moving and lack of expertise to go for alternative off farm income generation enterprises farmers of this village have resorted to deep bore wells for irrigation. However, in the absence of proper plans to recharge ground water with rain water received during rainy season, the present mode of agriculture using ground water from deep bore wells pose an environmental problem of sea water intrusion into the ground water and the consequent salinization of soils of the entire village.

In recent times, most of the garden as well as wet lands are converted into coconut farms. Unlike rice cultivation, coconut provides year-round income and requires less intensive labor work. With the day by day rise in the cost production of coconut and its volatile price in domestic and international market the sustainability of income from coconut farms is increasingly become uncertain. Industries to value add coconut produce seems to be the main and the only available optional initiative that can sustain the economy of this village.

With the increasing uncertainty in agriculture secenario, most of the local youth in Thamarankottai migrate to other countries like USA,UK,UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries in search of employment.

Women self-help groups

In recent years there has been a lot interest among women to launch self-help groups(SHG) supported by State and Central government schemes. Till now the main activity of these groups has been through micro financing by commercial banks for self-employment and income generation by group effort.

Retail

There are few grocery stores and other type of retail stores in addition to small-time restaurants and tea shops in Thamarankottai.

Education

There is no official statistics available on the literacy rate of Thamarankottai village. However, traditionally people in this village have not given primary focus to education. The situation is changing in recent years, with parents insisting that their children complete for at least college degrees. Following are the educational institutions functioning in Thamarankottai.

1. Government Higher Secondary School – Tamil and English Medium
2. Panchayat Union Primary School, Melakadu – Tamil Medium
3. Panchayat Union Primary School, Keelakadu – Tamil Medium

Religion and temples

The villagers are mostly Hindus and are normally religious. There is no dearth of temples in this village. The villagers also keep faith on Gods on other religion Muslim and Christian as Nagore Darga (Muslim) and Velankanni Matha (Christian) temples are situated about 50 km from Thamarankottai and the villagers make pilgrimage to these shrines frequently and during festivals of these religion. There is a small minority Muslim and Christian population in Thamarankottai. However, religious hatred has so far been never witnessed in Thamarankottai, and the families from other religion live with local majority harmoniously.

Sivan Koil

Sivan koil is the main temple in Thamarankottai and thelargest and oldest one. Its history has not been properly researched or documented. The fact is that the deity of this Sivan koil is incidentally the biggest land owner in this village, with more than 40 acres (160,000 m²) of land. This implies that the forefathers of Thamarankottai were religious, had faith on god and to make the temple sustainable donated lands in God's name. A fortnight long festival is celebrated in the month of May ( Vaikasi in Tamil calendar). The festival coincides Vaikasi Visakam.

Thee Kuthitha Amman Koil

This is a temple in which the main god, Thee Kuthitha Amman, is worshiped in reverence to one of the women who chose to die in the funeral fire of her husband. Even though Sati is not common in this village, this temple commands much respect among local people. Every year during the first Sunday of Chitirai month, some people, who have been fasting for the previous forty days, walk through fire to get the blessings of the Amman.

Sri MaduraiVeeran Kovil

Madurai Veeran Koil, a very big and very old Neem tree, is worshiped as a family god by a section of the villagers. This tree is located at Thamarankottai west Melakkadu.

Other temples

Idumpan koil is one where the main deity is Idumpan who is worshiped by a group of people in the village. Besides, Kamatchiamman temple, Veeranar temple, Ayyanar temple and Pidari Koil are the guardian temples situated around the border of the village. There is also a Ganesh temple and Ayyapan temple.

Other institutions

1. 24 Hours Primary Health Center of Government of Tamil Nadu. which provides free health care to people of the surrounding villages
2. Citi Union Bank
3. Agricultural Co-Operative Society
4. Post office (PIN 614613)
5. A TNEB substation has been a recent addition at a cost of 3 crore
6. Rice procurement center of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation

Local administration and elected representatives

Thamarankottai is a designated Panchayat. Currently the office of the Leader of the Panchayat is held by Thirumathi. Subathra Rajendran. The post of Thamarankottai's councillor to Pattukottai Panchayat Union Council is currently held by Thirumathi. Achikannu Natarajan