Chirakkara
Grama Panchayat

Chirakkara Grama Panchayat was formed in 2005 after the division of Chathannoor Grama Panchayat in Kollam district. Blessed with abundant natural resources, rich in legends and history, and home to farmers and cashew workers, the Grama Panchayat has immense tourism potential. The development vision of Chirakkara is centered on implementing “Village Tourism” by integrating agriculture and industry. Chirakkara Grama Panchayat is preparing for major changes in the fields of agriculture, industry, village tourism, social welfare, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. At its very first meeting, the Grama Panchayat took decisions to implement a Tourism Village project. The mangrove forests of Malakayal will be promoted as an international-level tourism destination. Basic infrastructure will be developed at the access points leading to the mangrove forests, and modern facilities will be provided for tourists. With the participation of private entrepreneurs, tourist homes will be established, and licences will be provided for homestay facilities in local residences. Bird-watching towers will be constructed at Polachira. A 7-kilometre bund road around Polachira will be developed with cycling and walking tracks, along with gardens on both sides of the pathway. At Mannathippara, sculptures depicting the Pancha Pandavas, Panchali, and Mannathi, along with a park, will be established. A cultural centre and a wrestling training centre will be established in memory of Polachira Ramachandran, the wrestling legend and film actor who won the Kerala Gama title. A ropeway, kayaking facilities, coracle boating, food courts, and recreational centres will be developed at Polachira and along the banks of Polachira and Malakayal, with the participation of Kudumbashree. A statue of Ravana and a park will be constructed at Ravananpoyka. A natural park will be developed around the ponds of Ravananpoyka. A park will also be developed around the Aayiravillippara waterfall. A Kathakali study centre and cultural centre will be established in the name of Chirakkara Madhavankutty, the renowned Kathakali artist who impressed India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The Chirakkara Temple, which is deeply rooted in local legends and is mentioned in the Manipravalam work *Unnuneeli Sandesam*, and which is traditionally associated with the Chera, Chola, Desiga, and Pandya kingdoms and is regarded as one of India’s longest Kalari temples, will be brought to international attention. A training centre for Chirakkara’s ancient martial art, Kalaripayattu, will be established near the Chirakkara Temple. The Theerthakulam at Chirakkarathazham, where Sree Narayana Guru is believed to have bathed and meditated, will be renovated. A meditation pavilion will be constructed at the place where he is believed to have meditated. A memorial will be constructed at Vilappuram in honour of the renowned poet Chathannoor Mohan. Paddy cultivation will be restarted and sustained without interruption in the paddy fields of Chirakkara, Uliyanad, and Kuzhupile. A “One Fish, One Rice” project will be implemented at Polachira. Barren lands will be acquired and, with the support of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the cultivation of pulses and tuber crops will be promoted. With Malakayal and Polachira as focal points, aquaculture projects including tiger shrimp, vannamei shrimp, pearl spot, carp, indigenous fish varieties, and cage fish farming will be initiated. A Fisheries Club will be opened and made operational, and greater facilities will be provided for inland fish farming. Products such as rice, tubers, pulses, shrimp, pearl spot, carp, and indigenous fish will be produced and distributed under the “Chirakkara” brand. Existing public markets will be reopened and new markets will be established. Mini supermarkets will be started at the Panchayat level for the sale of branded local products. Efforts will be made to persuade the government to establish an industrial IT park on the land acquired by KINFRA on the banks of Polachira, and the project will be pursued. The old drinking-water project at Ravananpoyka will be modernised, a treatment plant will be constructed, and the Chirakkara Grama Panchayat drinking-water project will be re-launched. The Panchayat will be developed as a women-, child-, differently-abled-, senior-citizen-, and gender-friendly Panchayat. More facilities will be introduced at the Buds School, Rehabilitation Centre, and Day Care Centre. New projects will be initiated for waste management. Products will be manufactured using the plastic collected by the Haritha Karma Sena. A Health Squad will be formed. A palliative care centre will be established as part of strengthening healthcare services. The existing PHC will be upgraded into a Family Health Centre with modern facilities. An application will be submitted to the National Health Mission (NHM) for establishing a new sub-centre in the Nedungolam area. Cultivation of medicinal plants will be promoted for the manufacture of Ayurvedic medicines, and projects including the preparation of medicinal decoctions (Kashayam) will be initiated. Various projects will also be implemented in the Homeopathy sector. In the education sector, Education IT Libraries will be established for students. More libraries will be opened, and existing libraries will be upgraded to IT-enabled facilities with e-library systems. The registration of clubs will be renewed, and sports equipment, playgrounds, and grounds will be developed. Training programmes in athletics and various games will be organised. Clubs will be empowered to undertake activities aimed at eliminating substance abuse. Rural roads will be reconstructed and new roads will be constructed. Street lights and surveillance cameras will be maintained, and new ones will be installed wherever required. Shooters will be engaged to control wild boars that are destroying agricultural fields. Bus services connecting all parts of the Panchayat through Chirakkarathazham and the Chirakkara Temple will be initiated in coordination with KSRTC, along with the introduction of the Grama Vandi service. Special projects will be undertaken for the reconstruction and development of Scheduled Caste settlements within the Grama Panchayat. During the 2026–2027 plan period, efforts will be made to implement various development projects by utilising funds and support from the Central and State Governments, industrial and financial institutions, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. — President, Chirakkara Grama Panchayat