Thiruvananthapuram district most deprived in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The capital district has the poorest access to basic amenities like land, shelter, water and sanitation. This was revealed in the ‘deprivation index’ evolved by the state. It has also been found that Thiruvananthapuram has the highest proportion of vulnerable families than even Idukki and Wayanad districts that are home to the largest proportion of tribals. This has been so for the last six years, ever since the index was evolved. In fact, even Malappuram, traditionally known for its backwardness, fared better than Thiruvananthapuram.

If Thiruvananthapuram had the highest deprivation index score of 29.5, Malappuram’s was only 17, way below the state average of 21. Kannur, with a deprivation score of 15.2, is the least deprived district.  The deprivation index is calculated on the basis of five variables - housing (percentage of families living in huts and dilapidated houses), drinking water (families whose access to drinking water is more than 300 metres away from dwelling place), sanitation (families without latrine), electricity (families without connection for domestic purposes) and landholding (landless families). Thiruvananthapuram’s high score is attributed to the presence of a large and backward fisherfolk. They constitute 4.4 percent of the total population of the district and about 28 percent of the total marine fisher population of the state.

“This explains in a big way why the district tops in regard to the deprivation of the general population,” a top Planning Department official said.  Scheduled caste families, too, are worse off in Thiruvananthapuram than in all other districts except Kasargod. Nonetheless, the scheduled tribe population in the district seems to fare better. It is only the sixth worst district for ST families. Anchuthengu is the most vulnerable panchayat in the district for the general population. Kottukal for fisherfolk, Panavoor for SC and Vithura for ST. “The index is an indicator of the intense inequality prevalent in the state and it is a matter of serious concern that the capital itself is the seat of the highest inequality,” the official said.