Thiruthuraipoondi

Thiruthuraipoondi or Thiruthuraipundi (aka TTP) is an agricultural town located south of District Thiruvarur.

Satellite pictures and carbon dating of some ancient beaches between Thiruthuraipoondi and Kodiyakarai show the Thiruthuraipoondi beach dates back 6,000 years and the Kodiyakarai beach 1,100 years. In other words, the sea was near Thiruthuraipoondi 6,000 years ago and reached Kodiyakarai around 1,100 years ago.

Tiruturaipundi is located at 10.53°N 79.65°E / 10.53; 79.65.[1] It has an average elevation of 4 m (13 ft). Thiruthuraipoondi is located at center of many towns like Mannargudi, Thiruvarur, Muthupet, Vedaranyam, Velankanni, Nagappattinam. Thiruthuraipoondi is located at Thiruvarur district.

Piravimarundeesar temple at Thiruthuraipoondi

Thiruthuraipoondi is well connected by road and rail with neighbouring towns.

Agriculture is the main occupation for people living in Thiruthuraipoondi and surrounding areas. Rice and dhal items grow here. The short-term Kuruvai and long-term Samba rice crops are cultivated depending on the water sources. Thiruthuraipoondi Cooperative Urban Bank was established in 1911, and is the oldest bank in the town. All major banks, such as State Bank of India, Indian Bank, ICICI bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Canara Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, Lashmi Vilas Bank, City Union Bank, Kumbakonam Cooperative Bank, and AXIS Bank have branches in Thiruthuraipoondi.

According to 2011 census, Thiruthuraipoondi had a population of 24,404 with a sex-ratio of 1,036 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[2] A total of 2,324 were under the age of six, constituting 1,180 males and 1,144 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 29.7% and 1.84% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 80.19%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[2] The town had a total of : 6263 households. There were a total of 9,378 workers, comprising 607 cultivators, 885 main agricultural labourers, 92 in house hold industries, 4,833 other workers, 2,961 marginal workers, 57 marginal cultivators, 2,076 marginal agricultural labourers, 41 marginal workers in household industries and 787 other marginal workers.[3] As per the religious census of 2011, Thiruthuraipoondi had 90.41% Hindus, 6.36% Muslims, 3.09% Christians, 0.04% Sikhs, 0.09% following other religions and 0.01% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.[4]

Since 1971, Tiruthuraipundi constituency has been consistently voting for left parties (CPI/CPM). This is one of few constituents in Tamil Nadu, that is a bastion for communist parties in Tamil Nadu. G. shri Palaniswamy, of CPI, has won this constituent, four straight elections, from 1989 to 2001. He won this constituent in 1991, which made it one of handful of constituents, that was won by a party other than ADMK/Congress, that year.

Tiruthuraipundi comes under the Nagapattinam (Lok Sabha constituency) – it has the following six assembly constituencies – Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Vedaranyam, Kilvelur (SC) and Nannilam.[5] The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is Dr.k.gopal from the ADMK[6] From 1957, the Nagapattinam parliament seat was held by the Indian National Congress for 4 times during 1957–1961,[7] 1962–67,[8] 1991–96,[9] and 1996–98[10] elections. CPI won the seat for 5 times during 1971–77,[11] 1977–80,[12] 1989–91[13] elections. DMK won 4 times during 1980–84,[14] 1999–2004,[15] 2004–09[16] and 2011 elections. ADMK won the seat once during 1984–89.[17]