Vechoochira
Grama Panchayat

Although the basic records are not reliable, the temple ruins in the Khakkuchira, Paruva and Noorokadu areas show that a people lived here long ago. It is said that they left the country fearing the attack of the Maravapada or that they left the place due to the attack of a creature called Vellam Patta that destroyed the crops. The only story that remains from that period is the legendary story of the great Shaktan Velan, who, betrayed by his companions, disappeared with them in the depths of the Perumthenaruvi. The Pulaya community lived in the Ennuram Vayal and the Ulladars and Vanamkudikas lived in the Paruva and Kakkadukka areas. The head of those communities was known as the Kanikkaran. Due to the extreme water shortage in the Kunnam region, the land called Vechuchira came into existence during the British rule when the areas with water availability in the valleys were allotted to the Annattu people. The place name story is that Chiravacha (Vechuchira) evolved into Vechuchira for water. Or there is an argument that the name “Vechuchuttumthara” was given because this area was used for emergencies and it changed to Vechuchira over time. It is noteworthy that a house named Chirakkal still exists where Chiravacha is said to be. The missionaries of the CMS church, who arrived under the leadership of Bishop “Gwil” for missionary activities, started a place of worship and a school in connection with it as part of their missionary activities. Noorokad is an area claimed by many people. It is said that Noorokad is a forest of one hundred ozha (one measure) and the place name Noorokad was given because there was an abundance of wild tubers called Nooron. The existence of the remains of an old temple here proves that this place was a place of earlier settlement. This area, which was occupied by many without a headman, was taken over by Alexander Kuttikandamthil Kathanar, a native of Ayiroor, and Christians were brought from Meenachil taluk to clear the land for ‘Patidehandam’ and give it to them for cultivating rubber, coconut, etc. It is said that the earthen canal became the mannadishaala and the place where the medicinal plant Peruva was abundant became the paruva. ​​A colony of 1500 acres was allotted to the soldiers who served in the Second World War in this area in 1952. In 1968, the governing body requested the government to allocate ten acres of land in Koothattukulam for the development activities of the panchayat, and this led to public protests. Finally, in 1970, five acres of land was allotted to the panchayat. Although the first school in the panchayat was the CMS School in Enuruam Vayal, the first recognized school was the Arayanpara EALP School. The first high school was Kunnam MTHS (1954). Venkurinji SNDP High School (1958) and Vechuchira St. Thomas (1960) Colony Government High School were later established. The first branch post office was opened in Vechuchira in 1955. It was upgraded to a sub-post office in 1965. In 1961, the first veterinary hospital was started in the colony area and was shifted to Vechuchira on 16 April 1977 due to technical reasons.