Kadamakudy
Grama Panchayat

Until 1963, Kadamakkudy was a region comprising three wards of the Cheranalloor Panchayat. On December 28, 1963, the first Kadamakkudy Panchayat governing committee came into existence under the leadership of P.J. Celestin Master. With this, progress began to be seen in various aspects of the social life of the islanders. For a long period of 16 years, they worked tirelessly for the development of the region. A group of selfless social workers from the various islands of the panchayat also cooperated with them.

The foundations for the progress seen today in transportation, electricity, water supply, healthcare, and education were laid through this collective public participation and unity. During this period, the panchayat constructed its own office building and a 25-acre fishing bund as a source of permanent income. The central library that exists in the panchayat today was also established during this time.

People’s movements and public struggles were organized to secure basic necessities such as drinking water and hospital facilities for the islanders. During 1972–73, with the assistance of LIC, drinking water was supplied to all the islands in the panchayat through pipelines from Pachalam. Through the efforts of the local people, 1 acre and 15 cents of land was purchased, and a Primary Health Centre with facilities to accommodate and treat 20 patients at a time was established there.

During this period, the Government Ayurveda Hospital at Valiya Kadamakkudy was expanded, and the Kadamakkudy High School was established. Under the “Laksham Veedu” housing scheme, the construction of 100 houses in the panchayat was completed, and the distribution of 4 cents of land for homeless workers to build houses was also initiated.

In 1979, under the leadership of V.V. Joseph Master, and later in 1988 under T.A. Jolly, the governing committees worked tirelessly for the progress of the panchayat. The emergence of many of the colonies seen in the panchayat today and the construction of the new panchayat building were achievements of this period. The Kadamakkudy–Varapuzha Road, the Thundathumkadavu–Chennur–Kothad–Chittoor link road, the Kadamakkudy Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, and the Kothad High School were also established during this time.

It was during this period that culverts, pathways, streetlights, sufficient public water taps, balwadis, and feeding centres were started in every ward. Housing projects, the construction of granite embankments along riverbanks to prevent soil erosion, the concrete footbridge at Cheriya Kadamakkudy, and the arrival of telephone facilities were also notable achievements.

Until 1961, the Periyar River used to flood regularly every year, and the island residents often remained cut off from the mainland for weeks. However, with the emergence of water reservoirs, such flood situations have now disappeared.

The economy of Kadamakkudy improved when prawns and other fish resources began to be processed with ice and exported abroad. The libraries, which became the cornerstone of the cultural activities of the panchayat, have been functioning for over 50 years. The library operating in Kothad is an A-grade library with around 8,000 books and its own building. There are also libraries functioning in Mulavukad and Chennur.

The various churches, temples, and clubs in the panchayat have also played their own role in the cultural renaissance of the people.