Vellamunda


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.

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.

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, which inherited control of these areas, were not very popular among the commons. This led to unrests from the Naduvazhis 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.
In 1950, Chondarnad 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 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.

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.
Sl No.SpecificationDetails
1Population30498
2Population 15410
3Population 15088
4Population Density473
5Sex Ratio979
6Literacy Rate81.84
7Literacy Rate 89.13
8Literacy Rate 74.42

Administration

The Vellamunda grama panchayat is governed as per the Panchayati Raj act and is administrated by the democratically elected Village Head and the council of elected Panchayat members. P. K. Ahmed Haji served as the first President after the panchayat was reorganized in 1961. 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.
Ward No.Ward NameMemberPolitical PartyReservation
1KandathuvayalAmmath HajiIUMLGeneral
2Vellamunda 10th MileKunhikoya V SIUMLGeneral
3PazhanjanaEbrahimIUMLGeneral
4MadathumkuniAthikka Bai MIUMLWoman
5Vellamunda 8/4SakkeenaINCWoman
6KattayadShajini AjithCPIWoman
7KokkadavuA.JohnyCPIGeneral
8TharuvanaP.ThankamaniIUMLST Woman
9PeechamcodeSidheeq E VIUMLGeneral
10KellurAbdul Salim KelothIUMLGeneral
11KommayadMargaret AugustineCPIWoman
12KaringariSathyCPIWoman
13MazhuvannurEbrahim Haji KanhaiIUMLGeneral
14PaliyanaKunhiraman PINCST
15PulikkaduRaheenaIUMLWoman
16CherukaraFousiya KIUMLWoman
17OzhukkanmmoolaGeetha ManojCPIWoman
18MothakkaraKalyani PCPIST Woman
19VarambettaLekha PurushothamanINCWoman
20NarokkadavuChacko Vandan KuzhyINCGeneral
21PulinjalAndrews JosephINCGeneral