Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

the centre of politics. Nearly all the major political functionaries at the Panchayat level
are either Panchayat members or members of various subcommittees or other bodies
constituted by the Panchayats, and hence, they are visible in the Panchayat or ward level
activities. Since one- third of the ward members are women, their participation in the
Panchayat activities have increased. However, visits to Panchayats showed that the
members are concerned with implementation of the programmes rather than conscious
planning and political debates centered around the course that Panchayat activities should
take. It is not that insightful projects have not come up, but they are few and depended
totally on the initiative of a few members.
Co-operative societies have come play a significant in the political schemes at the local
level. There are a number of co-operative banks in the field area, one each at least in a
Panchayat. The elections to the banks are acrimoniously contested, and indicative of the
dominance of the political parties in the area. Not surprisingly majority of the banks are
under the control of the Muslim League. Similarly a substantial number of other co-
operative institutions are also under the control of political parties, and again, they also
prove to be providers of occupations to a number of people under political patronage. The
role that co-operative sector of this kind plays in the local economy is another point of
investigation.
We now give a list of the co-operative societies in the region.
Panchayat Banks
Tirurangadi
Thenhippalam
Service co-operative
Bank
SC/ST Service
co-operative society
Thenhippalam
Service Cooperative
Bank
Table XXVIII
Producer Cooperative
Milk producers
Co-operative
society,
Katakkattupara
Consumer
co-operatives
C.U.Central
Co-operative
store
C.U.Co-
Others
DWCRA unit
Pantharangadi
Tirurangadi cooperative
education
society
C.U.Women’s