Neendakara
Grama Panchayat

Social and Cultural History

The small village of Neendakara possesses a rich cultural heritage. The annual feast of Neendakara Church and the festival of the Parimanam Durga Devi Temple are celebrated by people irrespective of caste or religion. Various cultural and artistic organizations have been functioning in the area to promote its cultural development. Libraries, reading rooms, and cultural institutions have played a significant role in fostering the region’s cultural growth. The earliest among them was the present-day Bapuji Memorial Library, which began as a Government Rural Library. Later, the Deshodharani Library was established at Puthenthura. Places of worship have also made valuable contributions to the cultural advancement of the community.

According to local legend, the revered saint Villumangalam Swamiyar, while traveling from Guruvayur to Thiruvananthapuram, rested at the shrine of the Parimanam Devi Temple. During his stay, he is said to have experienced a unique divine presence and fragrance associated with the Goddess, which led to the place being named Parimanam. A distinctive feature of this temple is the “Aarupara Vazhipadu” ritual, which is not found in any other temple in Kerala.

The temples at Mannathara, Kannattukudi, and Altharamoodu stand as examples of the region’s cultural heritage. Traditional martial arts training centers (Kalaris) and sacred groves (Kavus), which reflect the grandeur of the past, can still be found in various parts of the area.

Some of the earliest educational institutions in the region, including St. Sebastian’s L.P. School, Government L.P. School, Parimanam, and A.S. U.P. School, Puthenthura, played an important role in promoting cultural progress. The area has also contributed brave freedom fighters to India’s independence movement.

The first President of the Panchayat’s governing body was F. Antony. From 1984 to 1988, the Panchayat was under administrative rule. The governing body that came into office on 4 February 1988 had V. Sundaresan as President and Mary Cherian as Vice President. Following the implementation of the Panchayati Raj system, V. Sundaresan became the President of the first elected Panchayat administration in 1995.

Through the Panchayat

Agriculture and Allied Sectors

Several decades ago, paddy cultivation was practiced in Neendakara Grama Panchayat. However, paddy farming has now virtually disappeared. Since agriculture in this wetland region depends largely on rainfall, the intrusion of saline water from canals connected to Ashtamudi Lake has adversely affected cultivation.

The major occupations in Neendakara are coir production and fishing. Coconut cultivation forms the backbone of the agricultural sector in this coastal village. Neendakara is widely known for its fishing industry, and the majority of its residents depend on fisheries-related activities for their livelihood.

Neendakara is a coastal Panchayat in Kollam district, a region renowned for its cashew industry. It is located in Neendakara Village, Chavara Block, Karunagappally Taluk. Situated on the Arabian Sea coast, Neendakara lies approximately 9 kilometers from Kollam town on the Kollam–Alappuzha National Highway.

The Panchayat is bounded by Chavara Panchayat to the north, Kollam Corporation to the south, Thekkumbhagam Panchayat to the east, and the Arabian Sea to the west. It covers an area of 10.19 square kilometers.

Neendakara is one of Kerala’s prominent inland fishing centers. The Indo-Norwegian Fisheries Community Project was launched here in 1953. The area is home to a major fishing harbour and also functions as a port. It forms the southernmost part of the Onattukara region.

The principal crop cultivated in the area is coconut. Arecanut is grown to a limited extent, while banana, colocasia, elephant foot yam, and various vegetables are cultivated as intercrops. A Krishi Bhavan (Agricultural Office) operates at Parimanam within the Panchayat.

Due to its unique geographical features, Neendakara has a large population of fishermen and coir workers. A considerable portion of the Panchayat consists of backwaters and waterlogged lands. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea along a coastline of about 5 kilometers to the west, Ashtamudi Lake to the southeast, and the Chavara Canal to the north. Around 70 percent of the population depends on fishing as their primary source of livelihood.

Neendakara is also home to one of the largest fishing harbours in India.

Basic Infrastructure and Services

Neendakara Panchayat has seven Scheduled Caste colonies, two of which have been recognized as Integrated Housing Development Programme (IHDP) colonies, while two others are designated settlement areas. Most members of the Scheduled Caste community in the Panchayat reside in these colonies.

Historically, the coir industry was one of the oldest industries in Neendakara. Owing to favorable geographical conditions, fishing and coir spinning have traditionally been the principal occupations of the local population.

The first educational institution in the Panchayat, Neendakara Government Lower Primary School, was established at Parimanam in 1917. At present, a total of five schools operate within the Panchayat, including two government schools and three private schools.

Neendakara Panchayat also has a well-developed road network, with more than 40 roads serving the area.