KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY, FOR 1927-28
25
Rainfall.—The average annual rainfall for the decade 1913 to 1922 was 34.7
inches. About 14 to 16 inches of rain falls during the north-east monsoon, and
the balance during the south-west monsoon.
Population and mode of life. —In all the villages visited except Gnanapuram,
the population consists mostly of Hindus ; in the latter village, however, the
majority are Indian Christians. The occupation of the people is mainly fishing
and agriculture, a fair proportion being also daily labourers. Their huts are
constructed of mud and palmyra leaves and their food mainly consists of ragi and
the young shoots of the palm trees which are available in. plenty. Their drinking
-water is obtained from a few shallow wells dug down to the sub-soil water which
is fairly high being only 10 to 15 feet below the ground level. The water in
these wells is brackish, but not to such an extent as to prevent its being used for
drinking purposes. The majority of the villagers are illiterate and have no ideas
of village sanitation and hence fæcal pollution of the soil and water-supply is the
rule in all the places. To add to this, the economic conditions in these villages
are very low and the people live in a state of great squalor and privation.
The following table gives the population of the villages in the harbour area
—as per the census of 1921 :—
Tepparevu
...
... 200
Dibbamidipalem
...
400
Chintalapalam ...
... 250
Valakampet
...
... 250
Malakapuram ...
... 900
Vital statistics.—The adverse conditions with which the inhabitants of
harbour area have to contend are reflected in the vital statistics, of which the
following are examples :—
1916. 1917.
1918. 1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
Birth-rate per 1,000 ..
29
31
31.5
30
35.5
31
47
Records not
available.
31
Death-rate per 1,000 ...
30
38.5
38.5
45
21
30.5
18
Do.
37
The average birth-rate for the decade is 33.25 per mille and death-rate 32.25.
The low birth-rates in contrast to the fairly high death-rates are very disquieting
indications. In the current year up to the end of October there were 68 births
and 67 deaths.
The following are the monthwar birth and. death-rates for the current year
1925 :—
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug.
Sep. Oct.
Birth-rate per 1,000 ... 6
0
3.5
1
1
3
8
4
3.5
4
Death-rate per 1,000 ... 1
2
4
3.5
4
2.5
5.5
2
4.5
4.5
The average monthly distribution of births and deaths in the locality for the
last decade indicate the healthy and unhealthy seasons of the year.
Jan. Feb. Mar . Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Average monthly birth-
rate per 1,000 of popu
-
lation for decade 1915
to 1924.
3
2.6 2.25
2.8
2.7
2
2.4
2.5
2 5
3.5
3.2 2.75
Average monthly death-
rate per 1,000 of popu
-
lation for decade 1915
to 1924.
2.5
2.7 2.15
2
2.7
2.25
2.5
3.5 2 25
3
2.3
3.6
An analysis shows that as regards the birth-rate there are two periods one
from August to January when it is fairly high, and the other from February to
July when the rate is rather low. It is unfortunate that a large number of births
occur in the most unhealthy part of the year. As regards the death-rate figures
also, there are two distinct periods, one from July to January when the rate is
fairly high and the other from February to June when it is comparatively low.
It is indeed very painful to note that the number of deaths is almost equal to that
of births.
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