Panchayats & Boundaries
Punalur covers a mix of municipal and rural regions, comprising:
Punalur Municipality
Thenmala
Kulathupuzha
Aryankavu
Anchal (part)
Edamon
Valacode
It lies along the Kollam–Shenkottai road and rail corridor, acting as a gateway
to Tamil Nadu. The terrain includes forests, plantations, rivers (Kallada), and
hills, making it ecologically rich but logistically challenging.
Geographic & Demographic Peculiarities
Punalur is bordered by Western Ghats and is home to parts of the Shendurney
Wildlife Sanctuary and Thenmala Ecotourism Zone. The climate supports
plantation crops like rubber and banana.
Demographically, the region includes a mix of Hindus, Muslims, Christians,
SC/ST communities, and migrant estate workers. Literacy stands at around
93.5%, though education and healthcare accessibility in forest-fringe areas remains
limited.
Income & Livelihood Sources
Plantation & Estate Labour: Rubber plantations, private and cooperative
estates are key employers in Anchal, Aryankavu, and Thenmala.
NREGA & Daily Wages: Widely relied upon, especially in tribal and
remote areas.
Government Jobs & Transport Sector: Significant employment from
schools, forest offices, KSRTC, and health centers.
NRI Remittances: Growing, especially among youth migrating from
Edamon and Kulathupuzha.
Eco-Tourism & Local Trade: Thenmala’s tourism project provides
employment in hospitality, guiding, and artisan sectors.
Economic Strata
Punalur is largely lower-middle income, with a sizable working-class population
depending on manual labour and welfare schemes. BPL families are common in
forest-border hamlets and among estate workers.
Recent Development Efforts
Revamp of the historic Punalur Suspension Bridge and tourism corridor
upgrades
Kulathupuzha Tribal Welfare Projects including housing and solar
energy access
Punalur–Shenkottai Rail Broad-Gauge Completion, improving
connectivity to Tamil Nadu
Skill training and self-employment support through Kudumbashree and
SC/ST missions
Digital Governance through weone: Enabling rural access to services,
pension updates, and agricultural subsidies
Conclusion
Punalur Assembly Constituency embodies Kerala’s highland spirit — where
history, environment, and grassroots governance intersect. With growing focus on
connectivity, inclusion, and digitization, platforms like weone can bring essential
services closer to remote and tribal communities, building a truly participatory
democracy.
