Institutional History
Madappally Block Panchayat is a prominent local body in Changanassery Taluk of Kottayam district. The history and background of formation of this area are described below:
History behind the name
It is said that Madappally was the land donated by the King of Thekkumkur to the Edappally Swaroop (Edappally Dynasty) as a land grant during the reign of the king.
Mad means 'small hill' and palli means 'village' or 'temple'. This area got its name 'Madappally' in the sense of a village full of hills.
History of Formation
Block Panchayats came into existence as part of the community development (administrative decentralization) projects implemented in India after independence.
Beginning: Madappally Block Panchayat was formed in 1955.
Panchayat Formation: Prior to this, on 23 September 1951, 'Madappally Village Union' was formed by merging the villages of Thrikkodithanam and Madappally. Later, Madappally became a Grama Panchayat and then the headquarters of the Block Panchayat. M.T. Thomas was its first President
Geographical Features
Madappally Block Panchayat has an area of approximately 145 square kilometers. Its boundaries are as follows:
East: Vazhoor block
West: Veliyanad block
North: Pallam and Pampady blocks
South: Mallappally and Pulikeezh blocks
Included Grama Panchayats
The following major Grama Panchayats are included in the limits of Madappally block panchayat:
Madappally Grama Panchayat
Thrikkodithanam Grama Panchayat
Paipad Grama Panchayat
Vakathanam Grama Panchayat
Vazhapalli Grama Panchayat
(Note: Due to administrative reorganizations, wards of neighboring panchayats like Karukachal and Kurichi have also collaborated with this block at various times).
This area, which has a rich cultural and agricultural heritage, is one of the blocks with the highest literacy rate (about 99% or above) in Kottayam district. Many historic places of worship are located in this land, where Christian and Hindu religious communities live in harmony.