History of Grama Panchayat
The region featured narrow footpaths, shade trees, and *sambharam* (spiced buttermilk) sheds. There were even mechanisms in the *sambharam* sheds to deliver buttermilk through bamboo channels. Water troughs (*kottathalangal*) for cattle to drink water were also constructed adjacent to some rest centers.
In 1788, Tipu Sultan constructed a cannon road from Wayanad Pass through Thamarassery to Kozhikode. The present-day state highway, starting from Kanayankot, connected to this cannon road via Odayamvalli. During the British rule, large wooden bridges were built along this footpath. Prior to British rule, the Kurumbranad royal family had arranged bullock cart facilities to transport rice from Wayanad to the palace. The military leadership of the Kurumbranad royal family was held by the Edakkandi family.
In the past, social evils such as untouchability and social exclusion prevailed here. Vagbhatananda Gurudev visited the region and initiated a social renaissance by imparting the light of education to the downtrodden. During 1920–25, the eastern parts of the panchayat had untouched forests and tribal communities.
When the British introduced the railway system, the Jehobhai and Manibhai Company purchased 10 acres of forest land from the Kizhakkedath Kovilakam in Kurumbranad in 1902 to produce railway sleepers. They established a sawmill near present-day Mandoppara. Towards the end of the 19th century, British officials purchased around 2,500 acres of forest land belonging to the Kizhakkedath Kovilakam and began pepper cultivation. Later, this was shifted to expand rubber cultivation across nearly 4,000 acres, including in Unnikulam Panchayat. In 1909, a rubber latex processing factory was established at Kinalur under the leadership of Campbell Pinder Hunt. A major plantation unit in Kerala and a latex processing plant functioned under the Cochin-Malabar Group for nearly a century. It was later closed down. Today, an industrial estate housing numerous industrial units functions at Kinalur under the KSIDC (Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation).
In terms of transportation, this panchayat lagged significantly behind neighboring panchayats. The national highway does not touch the panchayat, and the state highway passes through it only nominally.
A traditional system of medicine existed here in the past. Ukkappakurup, the first president of the Balussery Panchayat, was a famous traditional physician. Midwives who conducted childbirths at home were also present in every area.
