History of Grama Panchayat

The outside world began to know about this region through the history of Churuli-Keerithodu. The Churuli-Keerithodu incident stands as a glorious chapter in the history of the Idukki-Kanjikuzhy panchayat. It is a tale of heroic resistance where hill-tract farmers sacrificed their very lives to prevent the soil, soaked with their own sweat, from slipping away from under their feet.

 

 

In 1958, people who arrived in the Keerithodu and Churuli areas in connection with the construction of the Sengulam-Pallam 110 KV line paved the way for large-scale migration into this region. Although the people who subsequently settled and began farming in these areas were evicted in 1961, this eviction ironically helped spread human settlement into other places like Kathippara, Thallakkanam, and Aalppara.

The Eviction and the Resistance

Following this, on February 26, 1964, official evictions commenced in these areas. Police camps were set up in Kathippara Thadam, Keerithodu, and Pazhayarikandam, and evictions were carried out centered around these camps. The agitation that arose in connection with this is known as the Churuli-Keerithodu incident.

It took several more years for the desires of the protest leaders and the public to be fulfilled—namely, to resettle the farmers on the very land from which they had been evicted. It was the ministry that came to power in 1967 that accomplished this task. They began the process by resettling five families belonging to different communities. That place is known today as Anjukudi (meaning Five Houses).

Early Settlements and the 'Grow More Food' Scheme

The first authorized residents of this panchayat were those who settled and began farming in Makkuvalli, Manayathadam, and Kaithappara (which fall under the current panchayat area) during the tenure of Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. This was part of the ‘Grow More Food’ scheme, initiated to tackle the food shortage caused by World War II. People used to reach this place from Thodupuzha via Udumbannoor. Having cleared the forest in the wilderness to start farming, they continue to lead a secluded life even today.

Long before this, since the era of royal rule, indigenous tribal communities had been living in Pattayakudi and adjacent areas bordering the panchayat.

Human settlement had also begun in Pazhayarikandam long before the Churuli-Keerithodu migration. Other communities began settling adjacent to the land allotted to the tribal population. Evictions had taken place here as well, alongside the Churuli-Keerithodu evictions.

The Emergence of Kanjikuzhy

It was after all these events that human settlement began in the Kanjikuzhy area, where the current panchayat headquarters is located. The migration to nearby areas became complete and local life turned vibrant when people displaced by the Idukki Project from places like Ayyappankovil, Erattayar, Vairamani, and Venganam were resettled near Kanjikuzhy with land pattas (title deeds).

The first institution established in Kanjikuzhy was a private school named Tagore L.P. School. Following this, other institutions came into existence, including:

  • A library and other schools

  • The Panchayat Co-operative Society

  • Post Office

  • Police Station

  • Government Dispensary

  • Krishi Bhavan (Agricultural Office)

  • Ayurvedic and Homeopathic Dispensaries

  • Village Office

There are very few regions in the hill tracts that have achieved so much progress in such a short span of time. The unity of the early migrants and the spirit of sacrifice shown by leaders who rose above party politics, caste, and creed paved the way for the growth of this land.