This district was formed on first November 1982 . The district has a total population of 12,31,577 as 2001 census provisional report. Sex Ratio- Females/1000 males is 1,094. Density of population is 467. Literacy is 95.09% . The female population is 6,43,542 and male population is 5,88,035. The district has its headquarters at Pathanamthitta. Thiruvalla and Adoor are the revenue sub divisions. The district consists of five taluks viz. Ranni, Kozhencherry,Adoor,Thiruvalla and Mallappally.
The total area of the district is 2642 sq.kms. Of this ,1390.73 sq.kms. come under forests. Pathanamthitta is a true tropical diversity adorned with fertile agricultural land, plantations and forests. Paddy,Tapioca, a variety of vegetables and spices like cardamom, Pepper etc. are extensively cultivated. The district also abounds in extensive rubber plantations.
The topography of the district is highly undulating. It starts from the tall hill slopes covered with thick forests on the east along the mountains down to the valleys and small hills of the flat land of coconut trees in the west. The district has more or less the same climatic conditions as prevalent elsewhere in the State, viz., winter season from December to February and summer season March to May. The south west monsoon from June to September and the north west monsoon from October to November provide fairly good rain. The climate is generally moderate, the temperature is between from 20 and 39 degree Celsius.
The nature in its true spirits is seen here in Pathanamthitta district with evergreen forests , rivers, hills and plains. Forest covers an area of 1309.73 sq.kms. in the district. This is more than 50% of the total area of the district, while the optimum area fixed by experts is 33 %. The total cropped area in this district is 1086.53 sq.kms.
Three important rivers flow through the district. They are Pamba, Achancovil, and Manimala rivers. The Pamba river descends from Sabarimala, flows through various parts of Ranni taluk, and enters Alappuzha district. The Sabarigiri and Kakkad are the two hydro electric projects in this district. Sabarimala is one of the most pilgrim centre in India. It is 72 kms. away from Pathanamthitta. Every year crores of devotees from all over India visit the shrine of Lord Ayyappa here. Maramon Christians Convension, Cherukolpuzha Hindumatha convension, Aranmula Uthruthathi boat race, Chakkulathukavu festival at Thiruvalla and Parumala Orma Perunal are the important celebrations in the distict .
Area Details
Taluk Area in Hectare* Total geographical area in hectare. Kozhencherry Adoor Thiruvalla Mallappally Ranni 34700.96 30485.77 15195.00 16883.00 28503.63 101536.52 30856.77 15195.00 16883.00 104991.00 Grand Total 125768.36 269462.29 * According to village records.
Health Infrastructure
Under the Department of Health Services, there are four Major hospitals in this district viz. General hospital, Pathanamthitta; District Hospital, Kozhencherry; Govt. Super Speciality hospital, Adoor and Taluk Head Quarters hospital,Thiruvalla. Apart from these, there area the Govt.Hospital,Kallooppara,THQH,Mallappally, THQH,Ranni. There are 3 Community Health Centres viz. Kanjeettukara, Ranni-Perunadu and Ezhumattoor. 43 Mini PHCs and TB Centre at Kozhencherry. 14 Minor and 4 major operation theatres are there in these hospitals. The total number of beds both in Govt.hospitals and PHCs is 1074. The present strength of Govt. doctors is 153 and number of private doctors 362.
In government sector, Blood bank and AIDS Control Programme Services (VCTC) are available in General Hospital, Pathanamthitta and THQH,Thiruvalla. Xray facility is available in General hospital, Pathanamthitta, District Hospital, Kozhencherry, THQH, Thiruvalla and Govt.Super Speciality Hospital, Adoor.
In the private sector there are 19 Major and 79 minor hospitals . the total bed strength in these hospitals are 3820. most of these hospitals are equipped with modern facilities.
Under the Department of Indian systems of Medicine, 5 taluk hospitals and 38 dispensaries are functioning. Six Vaidyasalas are functioning with the aid of this department.
Details about RNTCP in Pathanamthitta
This project was implemented in this district in 1994 as a pilot project in India. In 1994 the case detection rate was 33/lakh (11 lakh population and the NSP case detection rate 16/ lakh (21%).
Now the case detection rate is 61/lakh ( 13 lakh population ) and the NSP case detection rate is 43/lakh/year ( 56% ). Conversion rate in 2nd qtr.07 is 83% and Cure rate is 79%.