lakshadweep

The enchanting group of coral islands in the Arabian Sea form the smallest Union Territory of Lakshadweep. This archipelago consists of 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks. Of its 36 islands covering an area of 32Sq.Km only 10 are inhabited. They are Adroit, Amini, Agatti, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti (Headquarters), Kiltan and Minicoy. Bitra is the smallest of all. These islands earlier known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi islands are irregularly scattered between 8^o and 12^o30' North latitude and between 71^o and 74^o east longitude.

Lakshadweep lies about 220 to 440 Km from the coastal city of Cochin in Kerala. These islands and Cochin are linked by ship which takes about 18 to 20 hours and by air. The islands which were administered at various places were grouped into a Union Territory in 1956 and the name of this Union Territory was changed to Lakshadweep with effect from November 1, 1973. In 1964 the administration had shifted to Kavaratti island.

Though smallest in area, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep has extensive lagoon area of about 4,200Sq.Km, 20000Sq Km of territorial waters and about four lakh Sq Km of economic zone. The territory has tremendous economic potentialities because of extensive economic zone.

Malayalam is the language spoken in all islands except Minicoy where people speak Mahl written in Divehi which is spoken in Maldives also. The entire local population because of their economic and social condition have been classified as scheduled Tribes. Scheduled Castes exist in Lakshadweep group of islands