Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

the relatives and business partners in the gulf and other places. Hence, it is not surprising
that even old people are encouraged to join computer classes organized by Akshaya
project, what other role that such a project can perform is another matter. Thus it can be
seen that the initiatives taken by the Panchayats are geared towards the development of
the commercial consumer society now being formed in the area, and is not at variance
with the tendencies of community formation which is otherwise visible. Thus, both the
productive and secular potential of many of these initiatives are marginalized.
However, some interesting initiatives in the region are worth noting. The first is the
project to build a link between Kadalundi River and Poorappuzha. The project was
originally started in 1967 and then abandoned. During 2000-01, the project was again
taken up, primarily as a step to remove water-logging and make the surrounding fields
suitable for cultivation. The resultant channel named New Cut was opened by the present
irrigation minister last year. The New Cut has been instrumental in removing water-
logging in the area, but how far this initiative will result in the promotion of agriculture
remains to be seen. It is a fact that the New Cut has created some enthusiasm among the
cultivators. Compared to this there have been collective efforts to ensure drinking water
supply and to improve irrigation facilities. The Kelankurissi water supply scheme, which
is the collective effort of the householders in kelankurissi, now a part of Karumbil at
Tirurangadi is such an effort and is functioning quite effectively. The collective effort at
constructing kundanthode, a four kilometer long stream in Vallikkunnu Panchayat which
was meant to bring a large area near Kadalundi River called kundanpatam to cultivation
was another such effort. In this case, the indifference of the local landholders to
cultivation and the negligence of the authorities to create proper embankments have
resulted in the thodu slowly getting dried up. People’s planning campaign initiated a few
watershed studies and also resource mapping. Resource maps of the Vallikkunnu
Panchayat are available, and similarly, the data and maps of the Trikkulam watershed are