Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

We find that about two-thirds of the women workers were in agriculture and household
industry, and those who are not employed in it as such are employed in various services.
The shift towards various other professions which were becoming prominent in the
region is marginal. This means that with the decline of agriculture and household
industry, unless they are employed in various services, there very little chance for women
to find work in the normal case. The ability to find employment in services also would
depend on the educational standards of women, and those who are deprived of
educational opportunities would be unable to find work.
Industries
The list of industries in the region makes interesting reading. There is LPG bottling plant
by the Indian Oil Corporation at Chelari, a tile factory, now producing mainly hollow
bricks at Parakkadavu, a steel plant at Venniyur and among others, a long list that
includes engineering works, furniture works, wood industries, clay, ceramics, coir, saw
mill, flour mill, oil mill, printing press, crusher, welding, soap, ice factory, Aluminum
works, Ayurveda medicine, tyre resoling, copra, fishing engine repair, shoemaking,
seafood processing , fiber works, khadi spinning, iron and steel works apart from many
traditional industries mentioned above. There are also a number of bakeries and other
food products. We have seen that Beedi making existed, but is gradually disappearing.
Making of fishing nets with flax was another industry, which also seems to have
disappeared. Making of toddy from Palmyra and coconut, as well as arrack also existed,
but they also have more or less disappeared, except by some households. The list does
not contain any large scale industry, and most of them employ 20-30 laborers at the
maximum. The Bottling plant employs about 150 laborers, and tile factory at
Parakkadavu about 100. Some of the industries, like iron and steel at Venniyur, and tiles
industry at Parambilpeetika either are to be closed down or never got going. N.C.Garden
in Vallikkunnu represents a new variety of industry, that of tourism.