History of Grama Panchayat
In 1940, Arattupuzha Panchayat and later Vallachira Panchayat were formed. Paraykkal Varith assumed office as the President. In the democratic election held in 1953, Mullappilly Govindankutty Nair became the President and continued in the position through elections until 1979. In 1978, Avinissery Village, which was part of this Panchayat, was separated to form Avinissery Panchayat. From 1979 to 1985, K.W. Kesavan Elayathu served as the President.
In ancient times, most of the land in Vallachira and Arattupuzha regions belonged to the Brahmaswom and Devaswom authorities. These dominant social groups were also the major landowners in the village. It is believed that a man named Vallabhan Chettiar excavated a large pond in front of the Bhagavathi Temple, which came to be known as “Vallabhachira,” later shortened to “Vallachira.”
K.W. Kesavan Elayathu, Mullappilly Govindankutty Nair, Pulikkal Pendan Nambisan, and Arattupuzha Muthasayar supported the Indian freedom struggle. They organized protests at the local level, were arrested, and underwent imprisonment. Matheth Narayanan Nair also actively participated in the Indian independence movement.
Government U.P. School, Vallachira, was the first educational institution established in the Panchayat. In 1940, a rural library was established in Vallachira Panchayat, followed later by the Arattupuzha Library. During the People’s Planning Programme, Universal Library, Victory Library, and Navapushpa Kalasamithi were also formed. The Paralam Joseph Master Memorial Library functions at the Vallachira Krishnapilla Memorial Hall.
The Panchayat is connected in the east to Ollur and Thalore through NH-47, and in the west to Irinjalakuda, Kodungallur, and Thrissur Road.
The major agricultural crops are coconut, pepper, banana, and arecanut. Major commercial activities include gold ornament manufacturing and tile production.
Cultural organizations functioning in Vallachira Panchayat include Udaya Kalasamithi, Kaladarshan Arts & Sports, Maharasikan, New Friends, Santos, Kiran Kalavedi, Niram, and Puthuma. In the field of sports, Kaladarshan, Maharasikan, New Friends, and Santos are active. Thumbappoo-Arattupuzha and Yuvajana Samithi-Vallachira are important cultural organizations in the Panchayat.
Educational institutions in the private sector include K.M.N.P.S. Kadalassery, St. Mary’s L.P.S., A.U.P.S. Pallissery, St. Thomas H.S. Vallachira, St. Thomas H.S. Arattupuzha, and St. Maria Academy Elamkunnu, Vallachira. In the government sector, G.U.P.S. Vallachira functions as an educational institution.
There are 20 Anganwadis functioning in this Grama Panchayat. The rural libraries situated at Vallachira, Arattupuzha, and Chathakkudam open up a wide world of knowledge to the people of the Panchayat.