Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu

Shri. Palaniappan Chidambaram was elected as Member of Parliament  to the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) from Sivaganga constituency of Tamil Nadu in general elections held in 2004. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Sivaganga constituency in general elections held in 1984. He was re-elected from the same constituency in the general elections of 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2004. The number of registered voters for this Lok Sabha constituency is 8,59,145 (as of 2006).

Shri Chidambaram is a Member of the Indian National Congress Party and is at present the Finance Minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition (federal) government led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He is holding the portfolio since May 2004, when the UPA formed the government. He was also a cabinet minister with the same portfolio in the United Front coalition government from 1996 to 1998. Prior to this, he was Minister of State (Deputy Minister) in the Rajiv Gandhi and Narasimha Rao led Congress-party governments, holding other portfolios. He belongs to the prominent family of Raja Muthiah who were semi-royal feudal overlords of several villages.

Demographic Details

Sivaganga, also known as Sivagangai, is a city and municipality in the Sivaganga district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the district and spreads over 4,189 sq. km. The geographical position of Sivaganga district is between 9.43' and 10.2' North Latitude and between 77º 30' and 77.47' and 78.49' East Longitude 51%

Population
Total population is 11,50,753 according to the 2001 Census, out of which, there are 5,65,59, males and 5,85,159 females. 11.5% of the population is under six years of age.

Density
Persons/ Sq.Km of Sivaganga is 274.7.

Literacy Rate
Sivaganga has an average literacy rate of 72.18%, which is higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy rate stands at 83.14%, and female literacy rate is at 61.74%.

The History Of Sivaganga

The Kingdom of Ramnad originally comprised of the territories of Ramnad, Sivaganga and Pudukottai of today. Regunatha Sethupathy alias Kilavan Sethupathy, the 7th King of Ramnad reigned between 1674 and 1710. Vijaya Regunatha Sethupathy became the 8th King of Ramnad in 1710 after the death of Kilavan Sethupathy. The King gave in marriage his daughter Akilandeshwari Nachiar, to Sasivarna Thevar. The King gave Sasivarna Thevar lands as dowry, Meanwhile Bhavani Sankaran, the son of Kilavan Sethupathy conquered Ramnad territory and arrested Sundareswara Regunatha Sethupathy, the 9th King of Ramnad and proclaimed himself as the Rajah of Ramnad. He became the 10th king of Ramnad and he reigned from 1726 to 1729. He quarreled with Sasivarna and drove him out of his Nalukottai palayam. While Sasivarna Thevar was passing through the jungles of Kalayarkoi, he met a Gnani (sage) named Sattappiah, who was performing Thapas (meditation) under a jambool tree near a spring called Sivaganga . He took the help of Sasivarma Thevar and Kattaya Thevan, the Rajah of Tanjore to regain the States again. They defeated Bhavani Sankaran at the battle of Uraiyur and captured Ramnad in 1730. Thus Kattaya Thevan became the 11th King of Ramnad Sasivarna Peria Oodaya Thevar died in 1750. He was succeeded by his only son Muthu Vaduganatha He was the second Rajah of Sivaganga. On the 21st of June of 1772 British occupied the town of Sivaganga and the towns of Keeranoor and Sholapuram on 25th June 1772. Muthu Vaduganatha Rajah along with many of his followers died in that heroic battle.

The Maruthu Pandiyar brothers (Periya Maruthu & Chinna Maruthu) ruled Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu during the last part of the 18th century and they were the first to issue a proclamation of independence from the British rule. Their heirs continued to rule the estate the last heir to rule being Sri D.S. Karthikeya Venkatachalapathy Rajah and he was the Hereditary Trustee of Sivaganga Based on the "District Gazette" 1990 of Ramanathapuram, and the history of Sivaganga maintained by Samasthanam, Sivaganga District has been formed mostly with an area of entire Sivaganga Zamin and part of Ramnad Zamin.

For further reading: http://www.sivaganga.tn.nic.in/history.htm Top

Educational Institutions

Alagappa University
Alagappa University came into existence by a Special Act of the Government of Tamil Nadu in May 1985 with the objective of fostering research, development and dissemination of knowledge in various branches of learning. Alagappa University is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. The University has 15 Departments, 3 Centres and 2 Constituent Colleges on its campus. 23 Affiliated Colleges located in the districts of Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram are part of the University. Alagappa University accredited with 'A' Grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is located at Karaikudi. The University offers education through Regular, Week-end, Distance and Collaborative modes
http://www.alagappauniversity.ac.in/university/university.html

Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI)
The Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), founded in 1948, has its roots in the patriotic fervor of Dr. R. M. Alagappa Chettiar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr. Shanthi Swarup Bhatnagar. On January 14, 1953 CECRI became a reality when Dr. S. Radhakrishnan dedicated CECRI, the twelfth national laboratory under the CSIR, to the nation. CECRI today is a proud family of 427 employees, 137 of whom are scientists. It represents the largest research establishment for electrochemistry in South Asia. Headquartered at Karaikudi, CECRI has extension centers in Chennai, Mandapam and Tuticorin. Located at latitude of 10.06O and longitude of 78.8O, CECRI, Karaikudi is about 85 km away both from Trichi and Madurai. The ambience at CECRI is quite apt for R&D work.
http://www.cecri-india.com/

Alagappa Engineering College
Dr. R.M. Alagappa Chettiar a man of rare wisdom and forethought, founded Alagappa Chettiar Educational Trust on 21st July, 1952. ACCET started functioning with three faculties-Civil, Mechanical and Electrical and Electronics Engineering. The Foundation for the main building of the college was laid by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India on 19th February 1953. Subsequently, in 1966, the institution was handed over to Govt. of Tamil Nadu. 

In 1969 a new faculty, Electronics and Communication Engineering was started.

M.E. in Microwave and Optical Engineering was started in 1983. In 1988, Master of Computer Application (M.C.A) were started. In 2001, B.E. Degree course in Computer Science and Engineering was also introduced.

KLN College of Engineering, Sivaganga
College was established in 1994 and is recognized by AICTE, New Delhi. It has Accreditation / Affiliation / Recognition / Approval by Anna University

The College is a self-financing Co-educational Engineering College and is declared as having Linguistic Minority Status belonging to Backward Community (Sourashtra). Courses offered include BE in Automobile, Computer Science, Electrical & Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Mechanical, Power Systems Engineering, and Information engineering.

Nursing Colleges in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
 It offers training courses in Nursing, General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) in addition to degree courses like Post-Basic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (PBBSc), Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing, Master of Science (MSc) Nursing.

Business Schools & Management Education Colleges in Sivaganga Private Engineering Colleges - Six Self Finance Engineering Colleges Top

Industries in Sivaganga

SIVAGANGA GRAPHITE INDUSTRIES or TAMIN - Tamil Nadu Minerals Ltd., popularly known as TAMIN is a wholly owned blue chip company of the Government of Tamil Nadu. It was incorporated in the year 1978 with the objective of exploiting minerals in a systematic and scientific manner

SIDCO - SMALL INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION-SIVAGANGA –
SIDCO, Sivaganga mainly performs the following activities:

1. Formation and Maintenance of Industrial Estates.
2. Raw Material Distribution
3. Marketing Assistance to SSI Units

There are three Industrial Estates functioning in Sivaganga District under the control of this Branch Office

SIPCOT - State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu - SIPCOT Limited, a fully government owned premier institution, established in the year 1972, has been a catalyst in development of small, medium and large scale industries in Tamil Nadu

TCP Limited –
TCP Limited was incorporated on 8th June 1971, as a Joint Sector Unit, with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited. The company has set up its Plant for the manufacture of 4600 MT’s of Sodium Hydrosulphite (SHS).

Sakthi Sugars 
Sakti Sugars is one of the largest producers of Sugar in India with a capacity of over 13,500 tonnes of cane crush per day. Sakthi Sugar  has units / plants in Tamil Nadu and Orissa states, India Top

Tourism at Sivaganga district:

1. Chettinadu Dining Hall
2. Koviloor Temple, Karaikudi
3. Pillaiyarpatti temple
4. Kandadevi Temple
5. Idaikattur Church
6. Kaleeswarar Temple
7. Thirukostiyur Temple
8. Nagarasivan Temple
9. Karaikudi
10. Kovilur Temple
11. Kundrakudi Temple

A beautiful Palace in Kanadukathan	Kovilur Temple Near Karaikudi
The temple of Kalaiyarkoil is a very large and handsome building surrounded by a strong stone-wall about 18 feet in height. Kalaiyarkoil has two Rajagopuram (a big and a small one). There is a big Tank on the southern side of the Temple.	The holy temple KALAIYARKOIL is 18 K.M east of Sivagangai, 30 K.M west of Devakottai on the Devakottai – Manamadurai Road and 66 KM south – east of Madurai –Pillaiyarpatti.

Sivaganga News

• May 2008
• Trial supply from January
  30-May-2008   Source: Hindu, Chennai
  
  Ramanathapuram: Trial supply through the comprehensive drinking water project will begin in January next year, Collector R. Kirlosh Kumar has said.
  
  Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, he said that the components of the project were grouped under seven packages except head works. Packages I, II, III, V and head works were being undertaken in Pudukottai and Sivaganga districts. Packages IV, VI and VII were being implemented in Ramanathapuram district. More than 50 percent of the works were completed. read more..
  Top
  IDBI’s 500th branch
  26-May-2008   Source: Business Line, Chennai
  
  The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, inaugurates the 500th branch of IDBI at Karaikudi on Sunday. The Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Mr K.R. Periya Karuppan (middle), and the IDBI Chairman & Managing Director, Mr Yogesh Agarwal, are also seen. Mr Chidamabaram said that inflation was a global phenomenon, resulting from rising crude oil prices. read more..
  Top
  Dramatic growth in banking sector
  25-May-2008   Source: The Hindu, Chennai
  
  Kandanur (Sivaganga District): The banking sector has gone through a revolutionary phase in the four-year-period of the United Progressive Alliance rule, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said on Saturday.
  
  Inaugurating an automated teller machine of Canara Bank at his native village, Mr. Chidambaram said almost all banks had seen a dramatic growth. Their volume of business touched a new high. The banks not only achieved the targets in various sectors, but also fulfilled their social commitments. read more..
  Top
  Bank officers to redress grievances
  25-May-2008   Source: Hindu, Chennai
  
  Sivaganga (Tamil Nadu): District-level redress officers will be appointed to look into farmers’ complaints over the Rs. 71,680-crore loan waiver scheme, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said on Saturday.
  
  It was quite natural to hear complaints here and there as the scheme covered 4.3 crore beneficiaries throughout the country. The grievance redress mechanism would facilitate an error-free settlement of loans, he said inaugurating the 1,852nd branch of the Indian Overseas Bank at S.Pudur in this district. read more..
  Top
  Location chosen for Sivaganga medical college
  21-May-2008   Source: Hindu, TN
  
  "SIVAGANGA: Even as people of Karaikudi and surrounding areas hope that the government will set up the proposed medical college at Karaikudi, Collector Pankaj Kumar Bansal has scotched the speculation and even indicated the exact location at Sivaganga." read more..
  Top
  Oriental Bank to set up 2 more training institutes
  13-May-2008   Source: Business Line, Chennai
  
  Madurai, May 12 The Oriental Bank of Commerce has plans to establish two more training institutes through its Rural Development Trust, one each at Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, according to Mr Ravindra Yadav, Chief Executive of the Trust. Speaking to Business Line at Singampunari in Sivaganga District on Sunday on the sidelines of the opening of a branch of the bank by the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, Mr Yadav said the bank floated the special purpose vehicle in 2006 with the objective of providing training and building up capacities of the rural masses, both in farm and non-farm activities. Four institutes were set up, one at Punjab, one at Uttarakhand and two at Rajasthan. read more..
  Top
• April 2008
• Centre for better access to higher education: Sonia
  6-Apr-2008   Source: Hindu, KARAIKUDI
  
  "AICC president Sonia Gandhi at the inauguration of the L.CT.L.Palaniappa Chettiar Memorial Auditorium at Karaikudi in Sivaganga district on Saturday. From left are Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, University Grants Commission chairman Sukhadeo Thorat, Mr. Chidambaram’s mother Lakshmi Achi and State Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan." read more..
  Top
• March 2008
• Broad gauge line to be ready by May 15
  29-Mar-2008   Source: Hindu, TN
  
  "Between Karaikudi and Manamadurai
  SIVAGANGA: Broad gauge conversion work between Karaikudi and Manamadurai would be completed before May 15, said Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, on Friday.
  Work on four out of five major bridges had already been completed. Work on most of the 192 minor bridges had also been completed." read more..
  Top
  Chidambaram hails TN budget
  22-Mar-2008   Source: The Hindu Businessline, TN
  
  "SIVAGANGA: Lauding the Tamil Nadu government for presenting a surplus budget, Mr P Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister, has appealed to all other State governments to prepare budgets without revenue deficit.
  He was speaking after inaugurating the 1387th branch of the Andhra Bank at Ilayankudi near here yesterday." read more..
  Top