Anjarakandy
Grama Panchayat

Anjarakandy Grama Panchayat is situated in Thalassery Block of Kannur Taluk in Kannur District, Kerala. The Grama Panchayat was established on 5 November 1955. The Panchayat has an area of 15.36 sq. km.The Panchayat is bounded by Koodali, Munderi and Keezhallur Grama Panchayats in the north; Munderi and Chembilode Grama Panchayats in the west; Chembilode and Peralassery Grama Panchayats in the south; and Vengad and Keezhallur Grama Panchayats in the east.The total population is 21,882, comprising 10,380 males and 11,502 females. Anjarakandy Grama Panchayat has achieved complete literacy.Anjarakandy is an inland region where paddy cultivation was one of the major agricultural activities traditionally given considerable attention and care. At present, coconut is the major agricultural crop of the Panchayat, with coconut cultivation covering approximately 1,187 hectaresPaddy is cultivated on 75 hectares during the first crop season, 65 hectares during the second crop season, and 2 hectares during the third crop season. Other major crops include cashew, rubber, arecanut, banana, pepper, pulses as intercrops, tapioca, turmeric and vegetables.The Anjarakandy River flows through the Panchayat. There are 4 ponds and 18 public wells in the Panchayat. In addition, the Pazhassi Canal is the major canal used for irrigation. There are 41 public drinking-water taps providing access to potable water. As part of electrification, 287 streetlights have been installed in the Panchayat.The major roads passing through the Panchayat are the Kannur–Mattannur–Koottupuzha Road via Anjarakandy, Thalassery–Chalode Road, and Chakkarakkal–Panayathapparamba Road. The Chakkarakkal Taxi Stand and Anjarakandy Bus Stand are located within the Panchayat. The Panchayat also has bridges including Mampa Canal Bridge and Kuzhinadaloada Canal Bridge.Mangaluru is the nearest major seaport, while Kannur Railway Station is the nearest railway station. For international travel, residents of the Panchayat mainly depend on Karipur International Airport.There are no large-scale industrial establishments in the Panchayat. Traditional industries such as stone quarrying, coconut processing, beedi manufacturing and handloom weaving are present here. Small-scale industries such as flour mills, welding units, oil mills and sawmills also operate in the area. A medium-scale coconut processing unit is functioning at Anjarakandy.The Hindustan Petroleum outlet at Chakkarakkal and the Essar Oil outlet at Kavumoola are the major petrol pumps in the Panchayat. Anjarakandy Farmers Service Co-operative Bank Agency and Hindustan Petroleum are among the gas distribution agencies serving the area.There are 8 ration shops under the Public Distribution System in the Panchayat. In addition, there is one Maveli Store and one Neethi Store.The major commercial centres in the Panchayat are Chakkarakkal, Muzhappala, Palayam, Kuzhimbalode, Kavumoola and Panayathapparamba. The Chakkarakkal Taxi Stand Shopping Complex is one of the major shopping complexes in the Panchayat.The Panchayat is home to places of worship belonging to different religious communities. There are around twenty temples, including Paleri Ambalam, Mampavilayarottu Mahavishnu Temple, Kaithappurath Madappura and Kunnath Bhagavathi Temple.The Muslim places of worship in the Panchayat include Mampasiyarathunkara Makham Kovil Palli, Palayam Juma Masjid, Chakkarakkal Juma Masjid and Anenimetta Thaha Masjid.Major festivals and traditional cultural celebrations of the Panchayat include Puthari Vellattam and Muthappan Theyyam performances at Muthappan temples, Thira, Theyyam, festivals at various temples, and Eid celebrations.Several distinguished personalities have contributed to the pride and heritage of Anjarakandy Panchayat. They include Balakkandi Kunjappu, a freedom fighter; teachers K. C. Kunjambu Nair and K. Kunjikkoran Nambiar; traditional practitioners Shiromani C. P. Vaidyar and Kumaran Vaidyar; Dr. M. Uthaman; former Panchayat President P. Kumaran Master; former Panchayat Vice President Bhaskaran Master; social worker Karunan Mesthri; and former Headmasters C. Chandukkutti Master and K. C. Kunjiraman Master.Other prominent personalities associated with the Panchayat include U. K. Kunjiraman Panicker, a renowned Kurankuzhal artist and recipient of the Gurushreshta Award; former Panchayat President N. Govindan; traditional toxicology practitioner Cheran Chathu Vaidyar; and former Minister N. Ramakrishnan.Important cultural institutions in Anjarakandy Panchayat include Priyadarshini Youth Centre, Muzhappala; Ambili Kala Samskarika Samithi, Kuzhimbalode; Sopാനം, Kuzhimbalode; and Sanghachetana, Ekkal.Several sports and youth organisations are active in the Panchayat, promoting sports and physical activities. These include Punchiri Sports Club, Odathilpeedika; Sanghashakthi, Muzhappala; Sports Planet, Muringeri; Ajith Kumar Sports Club; Yuvadhara, Kannadivelicham; Sopാനം, Kuzhimbalode; and Yuvatharang.In the primary healthcare sector, a health centre is functioning at Kannadivelicham. Kannur Medical College is situated at Anjarakandy, while B. M. Hospital is functioning at Chakkarakkal. An Ayurveda Dispensary operates at Purathhekkad, and a Government Homoeo Dispensary functions at Kuzhimbalode.Kannur Medical College, D. H. D. Chakkarakkal and B. M. Hospital provide ambulance services to the public.In the animal husbandry sector, a Veterinary Hospital is functioning at Muzhappala. An ICDP Sub-Centre belonging to the Panchayat is functioning at Kavumoola.Anjarakandy Grama Panchayat has made significant achievements in the field of education. In the private and aided sectors, there is one Higher Secondary School, three Upper Primary Schools and seventeen Lower Primary Schools functioning within the Panchayat. In addition, Anjarakandy Medical College and S. U. M. B.Ed. College are functioning in the private sector.A Yojana Rest Centre is functioning at Kavumoola and is one of the major social institutions in the Panchayat.There are several institutions in the financial sector. Syndicate Bank, Chakkarakkal; State Bank of Travancore (SBT), Chakkarakkal; and North Malabar Gramin Bank, Chakkarakkal were among the nationalised banking institutions serving the Panchayat.Co-operative banking and financial institutions include Anjarakandy Farmers Service Co-operative Bank, Kavumoola, with branches at Choola, Palayam, Anjarakandy, Muzhappala and Kuzhimbalode; Anjarakandy Milk Producers Co-operative Society, Muzhappala; Anjarakandy Public Welfare Co-operative Society, Chakkarakkal; and Mauvanjeri Co-operative Rural Bank, Panayathapparamba Branch.The Ashan Vayanashala and Grandhalayam, Chakkarakkal is the major library in the Panchayat. Other libraries and reading rooms include Gandhi Smaraka Vayanashala, Kavumoola; A. K. G. Smaraka Vayanashala, Vandikkaranpeedika; C. H. Ramar Gurukkal Vayanashala, Panayathapparamba; A. K. G. Smaraka Vayanashala, Kannadivelicham; Muzhappala Vayanashala; Narickode Public Library; C. R. C. Vayanashala, Muringeri; and Chorayalkundu Vayanashala.The Anjarakandy Samskarika Nilayam, Vandikkaranpeedika is the major community hall in the Panchayat.There are three post offices functioning at Mampa, Muzhappala and Muringeri. The Anjarakandy Telephone Exchange is functioning at Chakkarakkal.The Krishi Bhavan, Anjarakandy and Village Office, Anjarakandy are among the State Government institutions functioning within Anjarakandy Grama Panchayat