Vellamunda Gram Panchayat Explained

Vellamunda
Settlement Type:Grama Panchayat
Pushpin Map:India Kerala#India
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates:11.7341°N 75.9376°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kerala
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Wayanad
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1950 (Reorganized in 1961)
Government Type:Grama Panchayat
Leader Title1:Panchayat President
Leader Name1:P. Thankamani (IUML)
Leader Title2:Member of Legislative Assembly
Leader Name2:O. R. Kelu (CPI(M))
Leader Title3:Member of Parliament
Leader Name3:Rahul Gandhi (INC)
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:64.54
Population Total:30498[1]
Population As Of:2001
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Malayalam
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:670731
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Area Code:04935
Registration Plate:KL 72
Blank1 Name Sec1:Nearest city
Blank1 Info Sec1:Mananthavady
Blank2 Name Sec1:Lok Sabha constituency

Vellamunda is a grama panchayat in the Wayanad district of the state of Kerala, India, situated approximately 15 km away from Mananthavady, the nearest town. Vellamunda Panchayath Office is situated at Ettenalu (Literally translated to 8/4, which signifies that this place is located at a distance of 8 miles and 4 furlongs from Mananthavady).Vellamunda can accessed by Padinjarathara or Mananthavady

Etymology

The name Vellamunda is derived from 'Vellamunda Idam', which was the Tharavad of Vattathod family, the landlords of these areas in the days of Jenmi rule. The places near Vellamunda are Pazhajana, Thettamala and others. There is a small hospital and a u.p school.

History

The areas that constitute the present-day Vellamunda were ruled by the Puliya Kingdom before the days of Pazhassi Raja. The Puliyan Nair clan (Polighar), which inherited control of these areas, were not very popular among the commons. This led to unrests from the Naduvazhis (Lords) of sub-divisions of the place, namely, Mangalassery, Vattathod, Cherukara, Karingari, and Tharuvana, who approached Pazhassi Raja with a request to overthrow the Puliya Clan. Pazhassi duly obliged and defeated them, subsequently adding the area to The Kingdom of Kottayam.

It is believed that Mangalassery Hills served as one of the bases for his guerilla warfare against the British.[2]

In 1950, Chondarnad (Present-day Thondarnad) and Vellamunda villages were merged to form Vellamunda Grama Panchayat, which was reorganized in 1961 by removing Thondarnad and adding Porunnannur.

Location and Connectivity

Vellamunda is located on the Mananthavady-Kuttiyady route, and is well connected to nearby towns by roads. Kozhikode (83 km away) is accessible via the Kuttiyady Churam while the district capital Kalpetta, which is at a distance of approximately 30 km, can be reached via Padinjarathara.[3]

Demographics

Vellamunda, similar to other areas in Wayanad, is a not-so-densely populated village. The salient features from the 2011 India Census data are given below.

Demographics!Sl No.!Specification!Details
1Population30498
2Population (Male)15410
3Population (Female)15088
4Population Density473
5Sex Ratio979
6Literacy Rate81.84
7Literacy Rate (Male)89.13
8Literacy Rate (Female)74.42

Administration

The Vellamunda grama panchayat is governed as per the Panchayati Raj act and is administrated by the democratically elected Village Head (Panchayat President) and the council of elected Panchayat members. P. K. Ahmed Haji served as the first President after the panchayat was reorganized in 1961.[4] P. Thankamani of the Indian Union Muslim League, whose term started in 2015, is the incumbent Panchayat President. The details of the council of members are as follows.

Election Details (2015)!Ward No.!Ward Name!Member!Political Party!Reservation
1KandathuvayalAmmath Haji IUMLGeneral
2Vellamunda 10th MileKunhikoya V S IUMLGeneral
3PazhanjanaEbrahim IUMLGeneral
4MadathumkuniAthikka Bai M IUMLWoman
5Vellamunda 8/4Sakkeena INCWoman
6KattayadShajini Ajith CPI(M)Woman
7KokkadavuA.Johny CPI(M)General
8TharuvanaP.Thankamani IUMLST Woman
9PeechamcodeSidheeq E V IUMLGeneral
10KellurAbdul Salim Keloth IUMLGeneral
11KommayadMargaret Augustine CPI(M)Woman
12KaringariSathy CPI(M)Woman
13MazhuvannurEbrahim Haji Kanhai IUMLGeneral
14PaliyanaKunhiraman P INCST
15PulikkaduRaheena IUMLWoman
16CherukaraFousiya K IUMLWoman
17OzhukkanmmoolaGeetha Manoj CPI(M)Woman
18MothakkaraKalyani P CPI(M)ST Woman
19VarambettaLekha Purushothaman INCWoman
20NarokkadavuChacko Vandan Kuzhy INCGeneral
21PulinjalAndrews Joseph INCGeneral

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Govt. of Kerala. LSGD. Village Details. LSGD Kerala. Govt. of Kerala. 3 March 2018.
  2. Web site: History Local Self Government Department, Govt. of Kerala, India. lsgkerala.gov.in. 2018-03-03.
  3. Web site: Google Maps. Google Maps. 2018-03-03.
  4. News: വെള്ളമുണ്ട ഗ്രാമപഞ്ചായത്ത്. Mathrubhumi. 2018-03-03.