SOME ASPECTS OF INTER DISTRICT DISPARITIES IN TAMIL NADU

The study analyzes the inter-district variations in levels of income and human development in Tamal Nadu in recent years. It also tries to analyze the causes of the relatively low levels of income of some districts. For that purpose, it uses the district level data on per capita income and other indicators and constructs the human development index. The results indicate that the benefits of growth have not been spread evenly. There is a group of districts on the eastern part of the state below Kanchipuram, which has lagged behind economically and socially. However, the income inequality is much higher than the inequality in human development. The low-income districts are associated with low industrial development, low agricultural productivity, low human development, and larger proportion of SC/ST population and high infant mortality rate. We hope that the study could help policymakers and others to formulate appropriate policies to reduce the disparities.