Mananthavady Municipality

Mananthavady Municipality (Malayalam: മാനന്തവാടി നഗരസഭ) is the urban local government body responsible for Mananthavady, a town in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India. It is a municipality in the Mananthavady taluk and, by area, one of the largest municipalities in Kerala, covering about 80.1 square kilometres. The town lies beside the Mananthavady River, a tributary of the Kabani River, and is bordered by Thirunelli Panchayat to the north, the Kabani River to the south and east, and Thavinjal Panchayat to the west. Mananthavady is historically significant as the place where Pazhassi Raja of the Pazhassi royal dynasty is buried, and it is the headquarters of the Adivasi Mahasabha. The Wayanad District Hospital, which serves the district's tribal communities and poorer patients, is located in the town. The municipality traces its institutional origin to the Mananthavady Grama Panchayat, which was formed in 1962. In 2015 it was upgraded to a municipality, and the first municipal election was held in November 2015. The municipality has 36 wards. As an urban local government, it operates under the constitutional framework established by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which added Part IX-A to the Constitution of India (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG), and under the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, which governs the pattern, functions and services of municipalities in Kerala. Mananthavady Municipality delivers a range of civic services and certificates to citizens, largely through the K-Smart platform. These include birth, death and marriage certificates, building certificates, civil registration, building permissions, property tax, trade licences, welfare pensions, and complaint and grievance services. The municipality also publishes meeting minutes, annual plans, project details and committee minutes, and runs programmes such as Kudumbashree and Harithakarma Sena. Its official website is maintained by the Information Kerala Mission. Current officeholders listed on the official site include Chairperson Jacob Sebastian, Vice Chairperson Adv. Sindu Sebastian, and Secretary Anil Ramakrishnan. As a state-owned local body rather than a commercial enterprise, Mananthavady Municipality is not a profit-seeking brand; its 'offerings' are public services, certificates and civic administration for residents of the town and surrounding areas.

The area around Mananthavady in Wayanad district has a long history. According to the municipality's own historical account, Wayanad had a culturally advanced population from as early as the Neolithic period, and inscriptions discovered in the Edakkal Caves indicate that the region was ruled in ancient times by hill tribes. The last chieftains of this community were Arippan and Vedan, belonging to two families of the same lineage. Areas north of Panamaram were under the rule of King Arippan, while King Vedan's line ended through the treachery of the king of Kumbala Maippadi. Tribal communities such as the Paniyas, Mullukurumas, Oorali Kurumas, Kattunaikkans, Adiyans and Kurichiyas have lived in various parts of Wayanad for centuries. The Adiyan community is found in significant numbers in Mananthavady, second only to Thirunelli, and many settlements of the Paniya community are located in Mananthavady. The Oorali Kurumas, known for their craftsmanship, live in places such as Chaligadda and Mullanthara in Mananthavady, and the Kurichiyas were loyal allies of Pazhassi Raja. Mananthavady town itself lies beside the Mananthavady River, a tributary of the Kabani River, in Kerala's northern hill district of Wayanad. It was once ruled by the Pazhassi royal dynasty, and Pazhassi Raja is buried there. The town is also the headquarters of the Adivasi Mahasabha, and the Wayanad District Hospital, which primarily serves the district's tribal communities and poorer patients, is located in the town. The famous Hindu pilgrimage centre of Thirunelli Temple is about thirty-five kilometres away. Institutionally, the municipality began as the Mananthavady Grama Panchayat, formed in 1962. It was upgraded to a municipality in 2015, and the first election to the municipality was held in November 2015. The municipality has 36 wards and covers an area of 80.1 square kilometres, making it one of the largest municipalities in Kerala by area. Its boundaries run from Thirunelli Panchayat in the north to the Kabani River in the south, with Thavinjal Panchayat to the west and the Kabani River to the east. As an urban local government, Mananthavady Municipality operates within the framework created by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which constitutionalized municipalities or urban local governments by adding Part IX-A to the Constitution of India (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG). The Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 governs the pattern, functions and services of municipalities in Kerala and was enacted to secure greater public participation in planned development. The municipality's official website is developed and maintained by the Information Kerala Mission.

• 2015

  Mananthavady Grama Panchayat is upgraded to a municipality.

• 2015

  The first election to Mananthavady Municipality is held in November 2015.

• 1994

  The Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 is enacted to govern the pattern, functions and services of municipalities in Kerala.

• 1992

  The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act constitutionalizes municipalities in India, adding Part IX-A (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG) to the Constitution.

• 1962

  Mananthavady Grama Panchayat is formed.

Urban local government body providing civic administration and public services to Mananthavady town; one of the largest municipalities in Kerala by area.

• Birth Certificate

• Death Certificate

• Marriage Certificate

• Building Certificate

• Civil Registration

• Building Permissions

• Property Tax

• Trade License

• Welfare Pension

• Complaint and Grievance Services

1. 1Mananthavady Municipality official websitemananthavadymunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in
2. 2Mananthavady Municipality - History of LSGImananthavadymunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in
3. 3Mananthavady Municipality - Aboutmananthavadymunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in
4. 4Wikidata - Mananthavady Municipalitywikidata.org
5. 5Malayalam Wikipedia - മാനന്തവാടി നഗരസഭml.wikipedia.org