Meppadi
Grama Panchayat

Meppadi Grama Panchayat

Meppadi Grama Panchayat, regarded as one of the oldest Grama Panchayats in Kerala, was established by the British Government on April 27, 1935. Blessed with majestic mountain ranges and rivers flowing down from them, the Panchayat originally covered an area of 204.7 square kilometres. Following the formation of Ambalavayal Panchayat in 1961 and Muppainad Panchayat in 2000, along with the expansion of Kalpetta Municipality, the area of the Panchayat was reduced to 125.94 square kilometres.

History

Meppadi Grama Panchayat, regarded as one of the oldest Grama Panchayats in Kerala, was established by the British Government on April 27, 1935. Blessed with majestic mountain ranges and rivers flowing down from them, the Panchayat originally had an area of 204.7 square kilometres. Following the formation of Ambalavayal Panchayat in 1961 and Muppainad Panchayat in 2000, along with the expansion of Kalpetta Municipality, the area of the Panchayat was reduced to 125.94 square kilometres.

The first President of the Panchayat was a European named T. E. Heave. At that time, the Panchayat was administered by a 16-member governing committee nominated by the British Government. There were three wards: Thrikkepetta, Kottappadi, and Muppainad.

Later, the Panchayat functioned under the Madras Local Board. Records indicate that the Meppadi Cosmopolitan Club was used for conducting meetings of the Panchayat Board at a monthly rent of two rupees. The Chullick Estate Club also served as the Panchayat office for a period of time.

In 1969, during the tenure of K. Babu Sahib as President, the Panchayat shifted to its own building. The building was subsequently demolished and a new building was constructed. In 2014, during the tenure of Smt. Ramla as President, the existing Panchayat office building was renovated.

Socio-Cultural History

Before the present-day Meppadi developed into a town, the area was part of the Chembra Peak Estate. According to local belief, the name “Meppadi” originated from the long rows of workers’ quarters built to accommodate estate workers, which were known as “Melappadis.” Elambilery Hill, rising 6,806 feet above sea level, and Vellarimala, with an elevation of 7,364 feet, once witnessed mining activities carried out by foreigners in search of deposits of gold ore. Historically, the Kottappadi region is said to have been under the control of the Nairs and later came under the possession of Jain communities known locally as “Goudans.” The areas of Kadoor, Elambilery, Cholamala, and Chooralmala were under the control of the Edavalath Kovilakam, while the Vederi region was under the control of the Nilambur Kovilakam.

The Panchayat minutes also contain records of an incident in which access to a well belonging to the Nilambur Kovilakam was obstructed. The Panchayat intervened in the matter and took steps to restore the pathway.

Livelihood and social progress of plantation workers

Plantation crops such as tea, coffee, cardamom, and pepper have long been an important part of Meppadi’s economic life. The plantations, which were established from the 1800s onwards, were developed with the labour of workers brought in from regions such as Mysore and Madras. These workers laboured under the strict control of kanganis and in exploitative working conditions.

Infectious diseases such as cholera and malaria, along with poverty and harsh working conditions, made the lives of the workers extremely difficult. At the same time, strong social reform and cultural revival activities were taking place in the rural area of Thrikkepetta. Organisations such as the Gramoddharana Vedi played a significant role in promoting local development. In 1954, the Thrikkepetta–Muttil Road and the Kakkavayal–Muttil Road were constructed through Shramadanam, or voluntary community labour. Several struggles were also organised in the region against the feudal landlord system and in support of workers’ rights. The march organised by agricultural labourers demanding two ser of paddy as wages, and the subsequent struggle that compelled the landlords to concede to their demands, remain notable events in the social history of the region.

 Landscape, agriculture and education

Meppadi is primarily an agricultural village. Rich in hills, valleys, paddy fields, and rivers, the region is renowned for its natural beauty and abundant water resources. The major water sources include the Chooralmala River (Punnapuzha), Aranamalapuzha, Nellimundapuzha, Kunnambettathodu, Manivayal–Kottavayal Thodu, and Choladipuzha. The total agricultural land in the Panchayat covers 15,245 hectares. The major crops cultivated here are coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom, paddy, ginger, and banana. Of the total land area, 40 percent consists of low hills, 20 percent consists of hill slopes, 25 percent consists of steep slopes, and 15 percent consists of flat areas. Tea is the major industry in the Panchayat. Four tea factories operate in Arappatta, Rippon, Chooralmala, and Chullick. People belonging to Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Jain communities live together harmoniously in the region. The Panchayat has a total of 99 places of worship, where various religious rituals, festivals, and celebrations are observed throughout the year. The Manikunnu Mala pilgrimage, Meppadi Sree Mariyamman Temple Festival, Muppainad Church Feast, and Pativayal Uroos and Nercha are among the major cultural and religious celebrations of the Panchayat.