Tamil Nadu, the southern – most State of India, nestles in the Indian peninsula between the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Indian Ocean in the south and the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea on the west. In the north and west, the State adjoins Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

        According to National Sample Survey Organisation data (1999-2000), out of the total population of 62 million, about  12 to 17  million people (19-27% of total population) are living below the poverty line. However, according to official poverty estimates from the Planning Commission Government of India the incidence of poverty in Tamil Nadu is 20.55 % in rural areas. Evidences also indicate that the incidence of poverty among SC and ST population is much higher than that of the State average for all the communities. According to a study by Ray (2000), 48.5% of rural SC and ST households are living below poverty line. Similarly, poverty levels in female-headed households, both in rural as well as in urban areas, are higher.