PORUKARA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

CHAMPAKULAM

PRACTICAL
PREPARATION AND UPLOADING OF
JOURNAL ARTICLE IN BLOG

SUBMITTED TO, SUBMITTED BY,

Mrs. Celinamma George Revathy S
Department of Social Science Reg. No. SGAA15257528
B.Ed Social Science
PROBLEMS FACED BY PEOPLE IN
CHERIYANAD PANCHAYAT
PROBLEMS FACED BY PEOPLE IN CHERIYANAD PANCHAYAT

Introduction
Cheriyanad Grama Panchayat is situated in the banks of the river Achankovil.
It is situated in the southern most part of Chengannur Taluk in Alappuzha District. The
panchayat committee which came to power on 2nd October 2000 tried to find solutions
to the problems of the people. The main attraction of this panchayat is the panchayat
court which was established by Sri. V.K. Vasudevan, the then president of this Grama
Panchayat. This programme ultimately resulted in making this panchayat the first
litigation limited panchayat in India.
The panchayat committee took a decision to help such people who were
adversely affected by the long pending cases and this was the reason for forming a
panchayat court. The cases which could not be settled for the last fifty years were
settled through mutual discussion co-operation and timely decision. This disputes
between neighbours, family issues and such civil cases were settled in the panchayat
court.
About 300 cases of the panchayat have got settlements within the
panchayat. It is a rare privilege in the history of judiciary that mutual and amieable
settlements for all the cases leads to panchayat as litigation limited panchayat.

Methodology
In order to write the project on Litigation Limited Grama Panchayat of
Cheriyanad I used both primary and secondary resources. I am able to collect news
paper reports and magazines of the time when the panchayat was declared litigation
limited one. I fortunate enough to have various study materials connected with the
scheme of the Cheriyanad Panchayat.
I used the agazi e Pada ukal published by the panchayat during 2000-05
a d Saupar ika , pu lished i 2008. These ork ere i porta t pri ary sour es
among literacy works which helped us a lot in competing the project.
 Newspaper reports were of utmost importance in completing the study. In
addition it also helped a lot to get a clear understanding about the region for the
project completion.
My search for the truth also forced us to visit some of the beneficiaries of
the scheme of the panchayat and all of them were literally praising the idea behind the
scheme.

Discussion
The magazines of panchayat raj and panchayat service gave information
about the idea of panchayat court. The article written by K. S. Rajesh provide much
needed information for completing the project.
The studies conducted by Prof. Lalu Varghese were very helpful. The way in
which cases were settled in panchayat court and the hard work done by the
panchayat committee which the whole hearted support of people were known
through this study.
Newspaper reports of Mathrubhumi daily gave information about
Cheriyanad panchayat and the novel scheme of the panchayat.

Results
The panchayat committee members organized law classes for the people
and distributed texts such as `Niya aPada a o g the people. I u dersta d that the
disputes and cases in the panchayat were settled by the panchayat court to the
satisfaction of the both parties.
In this project I analysed the growth of cultural and traditional institutions
are the examples of this growth. Cheriyanad panchayat has been experienced in the
course of its development. From the position of a small and remote village of Central
Travancore, Cheriyanad came to the lime light not only at the state level but also at
the national level in many spheres at the same time.
I noticed the changes took place in the panchayat when a capable president
came forward with some creative ideas. The panchayat committee also carry forward
the novel scheme instead of indulging in negative criticism.
 In this study I understood that people belonging to different sections of the
society led a peaceful and happy life. Cheriyanad panchayat is role model for the
country. I realize that Cheriyanad panchayat not only solved the problems of the
people but also channelized the money earmarked for cases for the developments of
the country.

Conclusion
India is a country having millions of inhabitants with variety of cultures,
caste, customs, traditions and communities, in the all these there is a ray of hope in
I dia s ap a d that is a small village called Cheriyanad in the central Travancore
region of Kerala in South India. It is purely looking under the democratic system and
has the label of the only litigation limited panchayat in Kerala. It is a great
achievement for Cheriyanad to get this title. Even though the effort of the panchayat
was to be the first litigation free panchayat, this unique distinction could not be
achieved because fourteen cases which were against the panchayat and the
government could not be settled.
I collected a lot of information on the working of Cheriyanad panchayat for
the completion of the project. The panchayat is working by understanding the
people s pro le s a d ai i g the de elop e t of the illage and this system is a
good model for other panchayats.
Cheriyanad is known as a village which has complete law literacy. When put
into practice, the people of a whole panchayat willingly accepted it. The will of the
people of Cheriyanad was infact responsible for finding out a way which transformed
the entire life of the people qualitatively.
Reference
1. Devasia T. K, where Justice is neither denied nor delayed, Khaleej Times, Khaleej
publishers Ltd., 23rd November, 2008.
2. Malayala Manorama, (Mal), Manorama printers and pulishers Ltd., Kottayam, 9th
November, 2008.
3. Sauparnika, (Mal), Cheriyanad Grama Panchayat, 2008.
4. Padavukal, (Mal), Chriyanad Grama Panchayat, 2000-2005.
5. Sreedhara Menon. A, Survey of Kerala History, S. Viswanathan Printers and
publishers private Ltd., Madras, 1984.