Panchayats Within the Constituency
The constituency comprises nine grama panchayats in Nedumangad Taluk: Anad, Kallara, Nanniyode, Nellanad, Panavoor, Pangode, Peringamala, Pullampara, and Vamanapuram itself.
Geographic & Demographic Profile
Set amid the foothills of the Western Ghats, Vamanapuram territory is richly green, with hilly panchayats like Pangode and Peringamala feeding the upper basin of the Vamanapuram River. Villages such as Kallara and Pullampara reflect agrarian cultures with modest population densities; for instance, Kallara village had around 25,779 residents in 2001.
Literacy rates align with the district average (~92–93%) with moderate SC and ST presence, while river valleys support denser clusters near waterways.
Livelihoods & Economic Sources
Agriculture is dominant: coconut, paddy, and vegetable cultivation thrive in riverine plains and hillside patches.
Blue economy is limited — there’s no coastal stretch, though small-scale inland water uses occur.
NRI remittances support many households across the constituency, especially in riverine settlements.
Local trade & business include periodic markets in villages like Anad and Pullampara, as well as fledgling tourism in eco-hill zones.
Despite the rural setting, there’s minimal industrial or IT workforce — this is largely a Green Kerala constituency.
Economic Strata
The majority fall into the middle-income bracket, thanks to mixed agriculture, remittance income, and small-business earnings. A smaller upper-income tier exists — often successful farmers or NRI households. A modest population, including traditional agricultural labourers and marginal hill farmers, remain below poverty line (BPL).
Recent Development Highlights
The Thiruvananthapuram District Development Committee in June–July 2025 reviewed several key works impacting Vamanapuram:
The Peringamala smart village office construction and alignment of the limited-access hill highway through Peringamala panchayat
Development of reservoirs in Vamanapuram, Pangode and Kallara
Health infrastructure upgrade: isolation ward at Palode community health centre
Transport-related interventions including KSRTC schedule adjustments benefiting students, and road proposals on MC Road near Manikkal
A major project in planning is six check-dams on Vamanapuram River to harvest rainwater and tackle summer shortages across Varkala, Attingal and Vamanapuram areas. Simultaneously, the Vamanapuram River cleanup plan is underway led by KSPCB and CPCB with desilting, bank protection, and wastewater interventions to tackle severe pollution — especially around Thiruvallam—subject to a detailed DPR within three months.
Conclusion
Vamanapuram Assembly Constituency is a lush, rural-hill region whose identity is sculpted by agriculture and river-based ecosystems. It sustains a resilient middle-class lifestyle grounded in farming and NRI support, alongside small market commerce. Recent development initiatives — from village infrastructure and water security to river rejuvenation — are working to enhance livelihoods, ecological health, and inclusive rural growth.
