A VIEW INTO RURAL INDIA

INTRODUCTION
India is an agricultural country. Around 60% of India’s population lives in villages. In recent years the corporate sector had turned its attention towards the rural market in India. This study is to know about the actual condition of rural India, problems faced by the rural Indians and the awareness of consumers in the rural areas
MADURAI
Madurai is the second largest, and probably oldest, city in the state. Located on the Vaigai River flowing 150 miles (240 km) generally southeast. Rising in the Varushanād Hills of western Tamil Nādu Near Sholavandān it bends to the southeast, passing Madurai town on its course to its mouth on Palk Strait, which separates the southeast coast of India from Sri Lanka. The Vaigai River rarely floods; its chief tributaries are the Siruliar, Theniar, Varāha Nadī, and Mangalar.
Enclosed by the Anai, Naga, and Pasu (Elephant, Snake, and Cow) hills, the compact old city, site of the Pāndya (4th–11th century AD) capital, centers on meenakshi-sundereshwarar Temple. Tirumalai Nayak palace, Teppakulam tank (an earthen embankment reservoir), and a 1,000-pillared hall were rebuilt in the Vijayanagar period (16th–17th century) after the total destruction of the city in 1310. The British removed the city walls in 1837 to enable the city to expand, and administrative and residential quarters formed north of the river.
Large-scale industry has developed in the suburbs. Predominant are cotton spinning and weaving and the manufacture of transport equipment, tobacco, and sugar. Small-scale handloom weaving of silks and cottons, which have made Madurai famous throughout history, remains important. In the early Christian era, Madurai was also well known for its Tamil chankam (literary society), and a new chankam was established in 1901. The city is the seat of Madurai-Kamaraj University (1966).
The ancient history of the region is associated with the Pāndya kings. Later Vijayanagar, Muslim, Marāthā, and British rulers conquered it. In the 1940s it became known as the center of the civil disobedience movement and remained an important seat of political leadership.
Its chief crops are rice, banana, peanuts (groundnuts), cotton, sugarcane, coffee, cardamom, potatoes, lily and pears. City population 12,93,702 (1998). Major source of irrigation are Periyār (1895) and Vaigai (1960).area 51.85 sq.kms, (20sq miles),altitude 100.58 meters and 330ft above sea level.

VILLAGE PROFILE:
The village I choose is “EARKUDY ATCHAMPATHU” a small village situated in theni main road (N.H.-49). The village is 7Kms away from the Madurai city. The village is a panchayat union the union consists of 7 members and 2 staffs, it is well connected with road, the village is good in technological advancement.
POPULATION:
As per the latest records of the panchayat union the village has 850 families and population of 5000, out of which 58%are male and 42%are female.
EDUCATION:
The village has two primary school and one matriculation school that provide basic education to the students; a high school is situated 2kms away from the village. Around 80% of the populations are educated, of these educated persons around 28%are graduates, 20% plus two’s .15%had completed S.S.L.C. The students of the village are also studying in leading schools in Madurai. S.B.O.A. one of the best schools in Madurai is situated 3kms from the village, Madurai kamaraj university (MKU) is just 6kms from the village.

TRANSPORT:
The village is well connected by road; the village has bus facilities, which connect various parts of the city. Approximately one bus crosses the village every 5 minute. The village also enjoys the facilities of “SHARE AUTO”. Almost every home owns a cycle or two-wheeler. There are 15cars in the village, 20autos and 20 other four wheelers.
OCCUPATION:
The main occupation of the village is agriculture, around 75% of the population involves in agriculture and allied activities, about 10% are office goers, and the rest involve in other works. Agriculture is the main source of income for the village.
FACILITIES:
The villagers enjoys various facilities they are as follows ,
Cable T.V- around 80% of the village has the facility of cable connection, which is provided, to them at a cost of Rs.100/month,
Telephone booth- the village is good in telecommunication it has 5 telephone booths and around 120 telephone connections.
Service stations- the village has a automobile service station named “SRI SERVICE STATION” which provide various facilities, it satisfies all the automobile needs, it has customers from both urban and rural areas, the proprietor Mr.A.Rajendran belongs to the same village.
Petrol pump-the village has an petrol pump which was opened recently,
Primary health center-the village has a primary health center, which is supported by M/S. T.V.SUNDARAM INDUSTRIES LIMITED, which is located 3kms away from the village.
Medical shop-the village has an medical shop which provide drugs of certain extent.
BANK:
The village have an ICICI Bank, which is a fully computerized branch, it provide banking and loan facilities to the villagers. MrsR.Murugeshwari an account holder of the bank says that the bank facilities help them to a larger extent.
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY:
The village has a primary co-operative society, which provides ration facilities (PDS) and other facilities like fertilizers, and other products.
SHOPS:
The village has around 50 shops out of which 30 shops provide F.M.C.G’S and other amenities and the other shops provide various other services like food, refreshments, etc. Some of the famous shops of the villages are “PANDI KADAI”& “NADAR KADAI” which is the oldest shops of the village these shops are considered as supermarket of the village. Mrs.A.Packiam the resident of the village say that around 20 new shops had been opened in the village in the past 10years.
JAI-JAWAN JAI- KISSAN
JAI-HIND