Tamilnadu with an estimated area of 1,30,058 sq.km. equivalent to that of France, New York ranks eleventh among the states of India in size. It comprises 4% of the country's total land area possessing only 3% of water resources of India with the population of 6,21.10,839 million in 2001. Agriculture is the main occupation of people in Tamilnadu. About 74% of the people are engaged in agriculture and others in construction, industrial, trades, petty business etc.
Tamil Nadu holds impressive ranks in the general literacy rate, sex ratio, birth rate, infant mortality rate etc. However, if we critically look at the socio-economic and political situation of the state, we could find that there is a state of contradiction. Poverty, unemployment and under-employment, gender inequity, political instability, unequal distribution of wealth, lack of natural resources, especially water, caste and communal violence etc. are some of the major indicators of under-development and anti-development of Tamilnadu. More than 20 million people (35.9997% of the population in Tamilnadu) live below poverty line. In terms of distribution of rural assets, Tamilnadu has always shown greatest inequalities. Only 7% of rural families own 51% of the land, while 25% of rural destitute families own a meagre 0.86% of land and rural assets.
Women oppression is deep rooted in Tamilnadu. The sex ratio has been sharply declining in Tamilnadu from 1007 females per thousand males in 1951 to 1974 and in 1991 the ratio of men to women in Tamilnadu is not equal. This imbalance is due to large incidence of female infanticide in this state. This problem is peculiar to some districts of Tamilnadu i.e. Dharmapuri, Salem, Madurai, Vellore, Dindigul, Karur, Trichy and Perambalur. Out of 386 blocks in the state, as many as 105 blocks have reported the occurrence of female infanticide. In 1998, as per PHC records,3226 female infants were killed.
Even though the female literacy level in Tamilnadu has grown considerably over the years the gender gap between male(74%) and female (51%) in terms of literacy still remains.
Similar gender imbalances can also be noticed in the employment sphere in spite of the back breaking worm with the women in Tamilnadu are burdened, both at home and in agriculture, they have a very weak position in the organized sector. Very few women are engaged in regular jobs involving status, position or prestige.
Dowry is forbidden by law, but still remains popular. Some of the bridegrooms are demanding such a high rate of dowry that an ordinary bride family could not afford to pay. This leads to suicides and despairs among many girls. Dowry death cases are increasing in the state. Similar are incidences of eve teasing, molestation and rape. Among the 582 recorded instances of violence against women in 1999 in Tamilnadu. 191 are dowry-related violence. Sexual harassment, eve teasing and molestation often end in either murder or suicide. Among 258 suicide cases, 211 of the victims were married women and out of 145 cases of murder, 126 cases are married women (people's watch 1999)
Violence against women is on the rise both within the family and in the society at large. Wife battering, abortion of female foetuses and raping of minors are in the rise. It is a manifestation of unequal power relations.
The condition of rural women is worse. Apart from house hold chores, women are still responsible for work relating to agricultural operations, fodder and fuel collection. Since women have less access to education, employment, health facilities. Their social position in Tamilnadu is precarious and it is a cause of concern.
The Tamilnadu coast has been under attack by the forces of globalization and export oriented developmental policies by the state and central governments. Rapid industrialization and huge infrastructure development projects have posed an increased threat to both the livelihood of fishing communities and the ecological industries, pharmaceutical industrial complexes, aqua-culture shrimp industries, tourist resorts, hotels, entertainment parks, power plants, mega ports, etc. play a devastating role in the coastal ecology and ultimately the economy of the coastal communities.
Agricultural operations are seasonal and during off seasons they migrate to urban centres in search of jobs. Thousands of poor migrant labourers were lured by unscrupulous contactors to toil for long hours at very low wages under inhuman conditions. The agricultural labourers continue to live in extreme poverty and their very struggle for daily existence is so grim and exhausting that it squeezes out every bit of their energy and sentiments. Being dispersed and unorganized, agricultural labourers have minimal bargaining power to demand a rational wage structure.