While the region of Tamil Nadu has fared very well in terms of human development, the first Human Development report for the region reveals the huge disparity in the indicators of human development within the state itself. Factors contributing to human development are disaggregated and analyzed at the district level enabling readers to understand the regional disparities in Tamil Nadu and the reasons behind them. The report not only gathers in one place, all the various aspects of human development in Tamil Nadu, but also seeks to explain why the state has fared well in certain areas and not in others. It also highlights the policy interventions that will be required to correct the imbalances.

Tamil Nadu Human Development Report is a balanced and objective account of the state's performance and as such, will be of immense value to those planning for growth, social justice and equity in the state, as well as researchers and students of social sciences in university departments and other institutions.