Mankada is a hillside village in the Malappuram district of Kerala state. It is located 15 km from Malappuram and is part of the Malappuram parliament constituency.
Geography
The Mankada Panchayath is bordered the Cheriyam hills and other three major towns in Malappuram district, Malappuram, Manjeri and Perintalmanna. The total area of Mankada Panchayath is 31.33 km². Most of the land is arable. Climate is very cool in the rainy season and usually dry in the summer season just like the other part of kerala. The rainy season is from June to November, winter season from December to January and the rest of the year is sunny. The temperature is normal and ranges from 25 degree 35 degree. The terrain consists of small hills and upland plain. There is not much natural resources and most of the arable land is cultivated with permanent crops. Also there are no major environmental issues or natural hazards.
History
This place was originally part of the Valluvanad Swaroopam dynasty.''' Valluvanad was an erstwhile late medieval feudal state in present state of Kerala in South India extending from the Bharathapuzha River in the south to the Pandalur Mala in the north during their zenith in the early Middle Ages. On the west, it was bounded by the Arabian Sea at the portPonnani and on the east by Attappadi Hills. According to local legends, the last Later Chera ruler gave a vast extension of land in South Malabar to one of their governors, Valluvakkonithiri and left for a hajj. The Valluvakkonithiri was also given last Later Chera ruler's shield. Not surprisingly, the Vellatiri rajas were hereditary enemies of the Samoothiri. Valluvanad is famous for the Mamankam festivals, held once in 12 years and the endless wars against the Samoothiri of Kozhikode. By the late 18th century, Vellatiri or Walluwanad proper was the sole remaining territory of the Walluvanad raja, who once exercised suzerain rights over a large portion of Southern Malabar. Although management of the country was restored to the Vellatiri raja in 1792, it soon became evident that he was powerless to repress the trouble that quickly broke out between Mapillas and nayars, and already in 1793 management of the district had to be resumed as the chief and his family fled to Travancore.
People
As of 2001 census the total population of the panchayath is 28,935, which constitute 14131 Males and 14804 females. The population density is 763.52 per km² which is around the state average. The sex ratio is almost normal. The people are highly literate. The literacy rate is 92.60. A good percentage of the population is kids in the range from 0-6. Though Malayalam is the spoken language among the inhabitants English is widely used for administrative purposes. Cinematographer and director Mankada Ravi Varma was born here.
Economy
The economy encompasses traditional village farming, small scale business and the foreign money. A good percentage of natives are working in the Middle Eastern Countries. The local economy is currently undergoing construction boom and which is solely dependent on the gulf money. The main crops that are cultivated are coconut, aracnut, paddy and banana. Two gold load zones of highly potential sulphide rich high grade rocks have been found in recent explorations in mankada. The govt may head for the mining, if it can address the environmental issues.
Administration and other facilities
The panchayath is divided into 18 wards for administrative ease. Development funds are coming to the village through panchayath allocations and the assembly and parliament allocations. The panchayath has a very good track record on development using the fund allocation from local governments. The road network and potable water accessibility is available to a good number of people. The panchayath has one Government Allopathic hospital, one Government run Ayurvedic hospital and few other clinics. Other public amenities include four banks including State Bank of India, Federal Bank,Co-operative banks, one post office, public library, police station and a stadium.
Though the literacy rate is high, most of the literacy rate was attained through the literacy drive of Kerala Literacy Mission. The panchayath has good number of primary and upper primary schools. The main educational institute is the Government Higher secondary school Mankada, Government High School Cheriyam Mankada, Al Ameen English medium School Mankada and NCT English medium school Verumpilakkal which has thousands of students.
Vigilante issues
Mankada attracted the attention of national newspapers in 2016 when a 42-year-old man was beaten to death by his neighbors for visiting his girlfriend in the night.
