43-476: Kakkanad is a region in the Kochi metropolitan area , located 7 km (4.3 mi) east of the Kochi city centre. The term is used to refer to an area covering Thrikkakara municipality and the built-up areas in the western parts of the adjoining Kunnathunad grama panchayat. Kakkanad is a region of great economic importance within the larger Kochi metropolis. It houses many industrial and IT projects including
86-413: A highly centralized system of government, this has been moderated by delegating several administrative functions to the local level, thereby empowering elected gram panchayats. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the panchayati raj system at Nagaur on 2 October 1959. The date was chosen to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi 's birthday. Gandhi envisioned Gram Swaraj through the panchayati raj system. The system
129-404: A neglected area of administrative reform. The Royal Commission on Decentralization (1907), chaired by Sir H. W. Primrose, recognized the importance of panchayats at the village level. The commission recommended that 'it is most desirable, both in the interests of decentralization and to involve the people in the local administration tasks, to attempt to constitute and develop village panchayats for
172-575: A treaty with the United Kingdom, had left South India by then. This was in exchange for the island of Bangka as per the treaty. Kochi was thus under the British rule, till India gained independence in 1947. In 1949, Travancore-Cochin state came into being with the merger of Cochin and Travancore . After the King of Kochi refused to take any official position, The King of Travancore was made
215-732: A treaty was concluded between Travancore and Cochin, ensuring peace and stability on the Southern border. By 1773, the Mysore King Hyder Ali extended his conquest in the Malabar region to Kochi, forcing it to become a tributary of Mysore. The hereditary Prime Ministership of Kochi held by the Paliath Achans came to an end during this period. The Dutch, who feared an outbreak of war on the Dutch Republic signed
258-816: A unit near the technopolis. Industrial projects like Fashion City are proposed in Kakkanad. This has led to several builders setting up projects here. Kakkanad is home for the largest IT Township in India, the Smart City , the second largest IT industrial park in Kerala, the Kochi InfoPark . Kakkanad is also home for a Software Export Promotion Zone (SEPZ) . The international submarine cable systems landing in Kochi has their nodes installed in Kakkanad. The CSEZ houses
301-971: Is a metropolitan area consisting of Kochi and its satellite towns in Ernakulam district , Kerala , India . With a population of more than 2.1 million within an area of 440 km , it is the most populous metropolitan area in Kerala. The area constituted on the basis of census data 2011, consists of Kochi Municipal Corporation , 9 municipalities, 15 Panchayaths and parts of 4 Panchayaths . The 9 municipalities are Aluva , Thrippunithura , Maradu , Thrikkakara , Kalamassery , Eloor , North Paravur , Perumbavoor and Angamali . The fifteen Panchayaths consists of Chengamanad , Nedumbassery , Cheranelloor , Varapuzha , Chennamangalam , Kadamakkudy , Mulavukad , Kadungalloor , Alengad , Chottanikkara , Choornikkara , Edathala , Kizhakkambalam , Kumbalam , Kottuvally and Vypin Island. The state government and
344-514: Is home for the terrestrial relay station of the national television broadcaster, the Doordarshan . Prasar Bharati , the corporation controlling the public broadcast, has a marketing division at Kakkanad. Kakkanad also hosts the state-owned Kochi FM Radio . Red FM Regional office is also at Kakkanad on Seaport – Airport Road, near Infopark express way. Kochi metropolitan area The Kochi metropolitan area or Kochi urban agglomeration
387-412: Is spoken, as Thenpandi Nadu, Kutta Nadu , Kuda Nadu, Karka Nadu, Venadu , Poozhi Nadu, Pandri Nadu, Aruva Nadu, Aruva Vadathalai, Seetha Nadu, Malai Nadu and Punal Nadu. "Karka Nadu" is believed to be a reference to Kakkanad. The old name of kakanad is karkanad-thrikakara. Being the administrative hub of Ernakulam district , Kakkanad is home to several state as well as central government offices namely,
430-860: The Civil Station (hosting The District Collectrate , The RTO etc.), the District Panchayat office, the Airman Selection Board , Siksha Bhavan (office of the Central HRD Ministry), Kendriya Shram Sadan (office of the Regional Labour Commissioner) etc. Kakkanad is home for a portion of the industrial base of Kochi. It is home for the Cochin Special Economic Zone (CSEZ). Carborundum Universal Ltd has
473-497: The Cochin Special Economic Zone , Infopark , Smart City and KINFRA Export Promotion Industrial Park. It is also the administrative headquarters of the District of Ernakulam . Kakkanad is located near Thrikkakara, the capital of the mythical King Mahabali . In verse 273 of Naṉṉūl , a 13th-century book on Tamil grammar , Sankara Namasivayar recites a venpa that describes the twelve districts of Tamil Nadu where Koduntamil
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#1732765210444516-670: The Cognizant Technology Solutions , Williamslea , WRENCH Solutions, and the Sutherland Global Solutions. Kakkanad houses the following IT Parks: − All these together accounts for 25% of IT exports from Kerala. The Kerala Books and Publications Society has its press at Kakkanad. The press is the biggest multicolor offset printing unit in Kerala Government Sector. Kakkanad is also the broadcasting hub of Kochi. It
559-751: The GCDA have plans to include Mala and Kodungallur in Thrissur district ; Piravom and Kolenchery in Ernakulam district ; Thalayolaparambu and Vaikom in Kottayam ; and Cherthala in Alappuzha district within the Kochi metropolitan limits. Kochi was the princely state under the Kingdom of Kochi which came into existence in 1102, after the fall of the Kulasekhara empire. The princely state had
602-717: The Rajpramukh of the Travancore-Cochin Union from 1949 to 1956. Travancore-Cochin, was in turn merged with the Malabar district of the Madras State. Finally, the Government of India 's States Reorganisation Act (1956) inaugurated a new state Kerala; incorporating Travancore-Cochin (excluding the four southern Taluks which were merged with Madras State ), Malabar District, and the taluk of Kasargod , South Kanara . The Kochi urban agglomeration
645-476: The Kochi mainland as the capital. The state was ruled by Cochin Royal Family . On the earlier days, the kingdom of Kochi was always under the shadow of the attacks from Samoothirippadu (often anglicised as Zamorin), the ruler of Malabar the northern neighbour. From 1503 to 1663, Kochi was allied to Portugal . Kochi hosted the grave of Vasco da Gama , the first European explorer to set sail for India, who
688-586: The Patwari and the Darogha, which are part of our folklore, contributed to the worst famine in Bengal, with its effects lingering until the end of the 18th century. These measures completely disempowered the village community and destroyed the panchayat. After 1857, the British attempted to restore the panchayat by granting it powers to try minor offences and resolve village disputes, but these measures did not restore
731-496: The administration of local village affairs.' However, the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) introduced local self-government as a provincial transferred subject, coming under the domain of Indian ministers in the provinces. Due to organizational and fiscal constraints, the reforms were unable to make panchayat institutions truly democratic and vibrant. Nevertheless, a significant development of this period
774-624: The adoption of the parliamentary model of politics. During the drafting of the Constitution of India, Panchayati Raj Institutions were included in the non-justiciable part of the Constitution, the Directive Principles of State Policy , as Article 40. This Article stated, 'The State shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.' However, no substantial legislation
817-470: The block level, and a Gram Panchayat at the village level. The next major change in the panchayat system of India came with the passage of the Panchayati Raj Act (73rd Amendment) in 1992. A key motivation behind this act was the belief that local governments could be more effective than centrally appointed bureaucrats in identifying and responding to the needs of villages. Consequently, this act
860-539: The central government on different aspects of decentralization. To advance the Gandhian goal of direct political participation at the grassroots level, the National Development Council appointed a committee under Balwant Rai Mehta in 1957. The committee submitted its report in 1958, recommending a three-tier structure consisting of a Zila Parishad at the district level, a Panchayat Samiti at
903-635: The evolution of panchayats in India . Elected provincial governments enacted legislation to further democratize local self-government institutions. However, the system of responsible government at the grassroots level was notably ineffective. D. P. Mishra, the then minister for local self-government under the Government of India Act of 1935 in the Central Provinces, observed that "the working of our local bodies ... in our province and perhaps in
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#1732765210444946-403: The extra-constitutional khap panchayats (or caste panchayats) found in parts of northern India. Mahatma Gandhi advocated for panchayat raj as the foundation of India's political system. It was envisioned as a decentralized form of government, where each village would be responsible for its own affairs. This vision was termed Gram Swaraj ("village self-governance"). While India developed
989-494: The financial powers of the Panchayats. Thus, in theory, Panchayats have been given sufficient authority to function as institutions of self-governance and promote social justice. There have been several positive effects of this amendment, some of which are listed above. However, there is also evidence of deeply ingrained vote-trading structures maintained through extra-political means. This issue can potentially be attributed to
1032-480: The focal point of rural governance. The British were not concerned with decentralized democracy but were pursuing colonial objectives. From the 1920s to 1947, the Indian National Congress emphasized the issue of all-India Swaraj and organized movements for independence under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. As a result, the task of preparing a blueprint for local governance was neglected. There
1075-421: The local community. These assemblies resolved disputes between individuals and villages. However, there were various forms of such assemblies. The leader of the panchayat was often called the president, mukhiya , sarpanch , or pradhan , which was an elected or generally acknowledged position. The modern panchayati raj system of India and its gram panchayats should not be confused with the traditional system or
1118-409: The local rulers. They did not interfere with existing panchayati systems or encourage rulers to consider more democratic institutions at the local level. The rulers were interested in creating 'controlled' local bodies that could assist in their trading interests by collecting taxes on their behalf. When the colonial administration faced severe financial pressure after the 1857 uprising, decentralization
1161-552: The lost powers of the village community. From 1870, when Lord Mayo 's Resolution on decentralization aimed to improve administrative efficiency, meet public demands, and bolster colonial finances, there was significant impetus for the development of local institutions. This resolution was a landmark in the evolution of colonial policy towards local government. However, the real benchmark for government policy on decentralization can be attributed to Lord Ripon. In his famous resolution on local self-government on 18 May 1882, Ripon addressed
1204-585: The people in Plan processes, including formulation, implementation, and monitoring. The Second Five-Year Plan aimed to cover the entire countryside through National Extension Service Blocks, utilizing Block Development Officers, Assistant Development Officers, Village Level Workers, as well as nominated representatives of village panchayats and other popular organizations like cooperative societies. However, this plan did not satisfactorily accomplish decentralization. Consequently, various committees were constituted to advise
1247-415: The produce, and paid the government's share on behalf of the village. Above these village councils, a larger panchayat or council existed to supervise and intervene if necessary. However, casteism and the feudalistic system of governance under Mughal rule during the medieval period gradually eroded self-government in villages. A new class of feudal chiefs and revenue collectors ( zamindars ) emerged between
1290-835: The ruler and the people, leading to the stagnation and decline of self-government in villages. A detailed account of how a medieval South Indian village council functioned is carved into a temple wall in Uthiramerur , a village in Tamil Nadu , approximately 85 kilometers (53 miles) west of Chennai . Thirty council members were chosen by lot, a form of sortition . Males were eligible for selection if they were of good character and met certain requirements based on landholdings and knowledge of Hindu scriptures. They were then assigned to various committees responsible for irrigation works, gardens, and other matters. The British were generally not concerned with local administration, leaving that to
1333-494: The twin considerations of administrative efficiency and political education. The Ripon Resolution, which focused on towns, provided for local bodies consisting of a large majority of elected non-official members and presided over by a non-official chairperson. This resolution faced resistance from colonial administrators, and the progress of local self-government was slow, with only half-hearted efforts made in setting up municipal bodies. Rural decentralization , in particular, remained
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1376-563: The village land record office and established a company official called the Patwari, who became the official record keeper for multiple villages. Second, it created the office of magistrate and abolished the village police. The magistrate performed policing functions through the Darogha , who had always been a state functionary under the Faujdar. The primary purpose of these measures was the collection of land revenue by decree. The depredations of
1419-565: The whole country presents a tragic picture ... 'Inefficiency' and 'local body' have become synonymous terms." Despite various committees such as the Royal Commission on Decentralization (1907), the Montagu-Chelmsford Report on constitutional reform (1919), and the Government of India Resolution (1919), a hierarchical administrative structure based on supervision and control evolved. The administrator became
1462-765: The years, the city has witnessed rapid commercialisation, and has today grown into the commercial capital of Kerala. Panchayaths The Panchayat raj is a political system originating from the Indian subcontinent , primarily found in India and neighboring countries Pakistan , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka , and Nepal . It is one of the oldest systems of local government in the Indian subcontinent, with historical mentions dating back to around 250 CE. The word 'raj' means 'rule,' and panchayat' means 'assembly' ( ayat ) of 'five' ( panch ). Traditionally, panchayats consisted of wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by
1505-427: Was a significant step in India's move towards decentralization. The main features of this act are: (a) a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj for all states with a population of over 20 lakh; (b) regular Panchayat elections every five years; (c) reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes , and women (not less than one-third of the seats); and (d) the appointment of a State Finance Commission to recommend
1548-584: Was buried at St. Francis Church until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539. The Dutch, who had allied with the Zamorins in order to conquer Kochi, later became an ally of Kochi. In the battle of Ambalapuzha (3 January 1754), the Dutch allied Kochi was defeated by Marthanda Varma of Travancore (who was allied with United Kingdom ) after he defeated the Dutch in the Battle of Colachel -1741. In 1757 AD,
1591-475: Was defined in 1998, with the Corporation of Kochi , municipalities of North Paravur Aluva , Angamaly , Kalamassery , and 11 adjoining villages. Kochi is known as the financial and economic capital of Kerala. The economic growth gathered momentum after economic reforms in India introduced by the central government in the mid-1990s. Since 2000, the service sector has energized the economy. Over
1634-564: Was enacted at either the national or state level to implement it. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Panchayati Raj system at Nagaur , Rajasthan, on 2 October 1959, to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi 's birthday. Gandhi had envisioned Gram Swaraj through Panchayati Raj. Rajasthan was the first state to implement it. Nehru also inaugurated Panchayati Raj in Andhra Pradesh on 11 October 1959, on the occasion of Dussehra . The system
1677-468: Was gradually established across India. In the four decades since the adoption of the Constitution , panchayat raj institutions have evolved from being part of the non-justiciable Directive Principles to acquiring a new status through a separate constitutional amendment. Panchayat raj went through various stages. The First Five-Year Plan failed to achieve active participation and involvement of
1720-461: Was later modified in 1992. The Hindu text Rigveda (1700 BCE) provides evidence suggesting that self-governing village bodies called sabhas existed. Over time, these bodies evolved into panchayats (five-person councils). Panchayats were functional institutions of grassroots governance in almost every village. The village panchayat or elected council had significant powers, both executive and judicial. It distributed land, collected taxes from
1763-487: Was no consensus among the top leaders regarding the status and role of rural local self-government, leading to divergent views on the subject. Gandhi favored Village Swaraj and aimed to strengthen the village panchayat to the fullest extent, while Dr. B.R. Ambedkar opposed this idea. He viewed the village as a symbol of regressive India and a source of oppression, believing that the model state needed safeguards against such social oppression, which could only be achieved through
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1806-547: Was pursued by transferring responsibility for road and public works to local bodies. However, this 'compelled' decentralization primarily focused on municipal administration. The panchayat was dismantled by the East India Company when it was granted the office of Diwan in 1765 in Bengal by the nawab, as part of reparation following his defeat at Buxar. As Diwan, the Company made two key decisions. First, it abolished
1849-437: Was the 'establishment of village panchayats in several provinces, which were no longer mere ad hoc judicial tribunals but representative institutions symbolizing the corporate character of the village and having wide jurisdiction over civic matters.' By 1925, eight provinces had enacted panchayat acts, and by 1926, six native states had also passed panchayat laws. Provincial autonomy under the Government of India Act, 1935, marked
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