Polling Stations & Voter Engagement
In the 2021 Assembly election, there were 131 polling stations, spread across schools, community
halls, and anganwadis in villages such as Kuzhalmannam, Kizhakkanchery, and Thenkurissi. Voter
turnout was robust at 77.6%, slightly below 2016's 77.8%, reflecting strong civic participation.
Demographics & Terrain
Alathur spans approximately 312 km², home to about 1.7 lakh voters in 2021 (male-to-female ratio
~1024). It lies along NH544, with the Gayathripuzha River flowing through and providing irrigation
and cultural identity. Agriculture dominates, supported by fertile plains and hill fringes.
Livelihood & Economic Profile
 Agriculture & plantation: Primary occupations include cultivation of rice, rubber, coconut,
banana, ginger, and vegetables in rural wards like Melarcode and Kuzhalmannam.
 Remittance income (NRIs): Gulf income helps many households maintain middle-income
living, especially in Alathur town and Erimayur panchayat.
 Trade & local businesses: Small shops, spice and timber trading, and local transport services
support rural commerce. Beedi and agarbatti cottage industries once thrived but have
declined under anti-tobacco regulation.
 No blue economy, due to inland geography.
 Public services & health: Alathur town hosts a mini civil station, Community Health Centre,
and private hospital (Crescent Hospital), offering formal employment opportunities.
Economic Strata
Majority belong to the middle-income bracket, supported by agriculture, remittances, and small
trade. A smaller segment—landowners, shopkeepers, and diaspora families—occupy the higher-
income tier. A modest share of smallholder farmers and daily laborers remain below the poverty
line, though state welfare schemes and literacy (~90%) help reduce acute hardship.
Recent Development Highlights
 Polling enhancement: Expansion to 131 booths in 2021 improved accessibility across
villages during elections.
 Road infrastructure: NH544 through Alathur town continues receiving upgrades under the
Rebuild Kerala initiative, improving connectivity with Palakkad and Thrissur.

 Industrial and smartcity vision: Palakkad district—covering Alathur—is part of the national
industrial Smart City plan, with planned expansion in industrial corridors near Kanjikode and
Alathur.
 Agricultural support: Government schemes promoting spice and rice crop support, irrigation
aids, and cooperative extensions are active in rural panchayats.
 Healthcare strengthening: Upgrades at Alathur’s government PHC and enhanced services at
Crescent Hospital aim to improve primary care access.

Alathur Assembly Constituency stands as a quintessential rural agrarian region, supported by robust
farming, household remittances, and emerging infrastructure ties via NH544. With predominantly
middle-income demographics, improved voter access, rising civic amenities, and future-ready
industrial planning, Alathur is steadily embracing inclusive growth while retaining its agrarian roots
and community identity.