Over the decades, these social policies were implemented effectively with high public investment in social sector and strong administrative structures and systems that facilitated effective planning and monitoring. The State introduced progressive legislations and schemes such as social security measures, expansion of health, nutrition, WASH and education systems and public distribution system. Tamil Nadu is one of India's pioneer states for initiating pro-poor policies and social protection programmes for children and women in the most marginalized communities. Tamil Nadu has India's third longest coastline at about 906.9 km and this coastline bore the brunt of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami when it hit India resulting in 7,793 direct deaths in the State. Some 48.4 per cent of the state's population live in urban areas and it has the sixth highest ranking among Indian states on the human development index. Tamil Nadu is the seventh most populous state in India.
The State is home to several historic buildings, multi-religious pilgrimage sites, hill stations and three World Heritage sites. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian subcontinent and is bordered by the union territory of Puducherry and the south Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.