History of Grama Panchayat
Local self-government institutions based on urban areas existed in Travancore as early as the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1925, the Travancore Village Panchayat Act came into force. However, only seven village panchayats were established under this Act. Later, in November 1939, the Travancore Village Union Act was implemented. As a result, two types of local administrative systems—Village Panchayats and Village Unions—were functioning in Travancore even before India attained independence.
Keezhmad was constituted under the provisions of the Village Union Act. In 1947, the members of the Village Union were nominated by the government, and prominent persons from the village were generally selected for nomination. The first President of the Keezhmad Village Union was Makkar Pillai. The Village Union functioned from the office of the Keezhmad Gramaodharana Cooperative Society. Each Village Union operated according to its own set of regulations. Under the leadership of Makkar Pillai, the Keezhmad Village Union demarcated its boundaries and initiated the construction of major roads.
On 18 December 1963, a committee headed by T.O. Haidrose assumed office. As the government repeatedly postponed panchayat elections, this governing body remained in power for sixteen years. The Keezhmad Panchayat Committee, under the leadership of T.O. Haidrose, became the first in Kerala to complete the construction of houses under the One Lakh Housing Scheme (Laksham Veedu Padhathi).
The then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, inaugurated the housing scheme at Keeramkunnu on 6 January 1973. In 1973, the Panchayat received an award from the Government of Kerala for the rapid and highly efficient completion of 100 houses under the scheme.
Following the panchayat elections held in 1979, a nine-member committee headed by K.K. Seyd Mohammed came to power. The present Panchayat Office building of Keezhmad was constructed during the tenure of this committee.