History of Upputhara Grama Panchayat, Idukki

Historical overview

Migration to Upputhara began in the early 20th century, when a group of seven Christian households arrived in 1910 from Meenachil taluk after obtaining licences to establish tea plantations. [1]

Government policy to distribute pattas (possession rights) to migrant farmers facilitated settlement outside the plantation segment, with the largest migrant flow into Upputhara taking place in the 1950s. [1]

By the 1990s cropping diversified; data for 1996-97 show tea accounting for about 59% of the gross cropped area, with pepper 17%, coffee 8.1%, cardamom 4%, and banana, tapioca and coconut also cultivated. [1]

As of the 2011 India census, Upputhara had a population of 18,885 with 9,453 males and 9,432 females, and about 15% of the population belonged to Scheduled Castes. [1]

Timeline

1910

Seven Christian households arrived from Meenachil taluk to Upputhara after obtaining licences from the Government of Travancore to establish tea plantations. [1]
1996-97

Crop share data show tea accounted for about 59% of the gross cropped area; pepper 17%, coffee 8.1%, cardamom 4%; banana, tapioca and coconut also cultivated. [1]
2011

As of the 2011 India census, Upputhara had a population of 18,885 with 9,453 males and 9,432 females; scheduled castes formed about 15%. [1]

Sources

[1] Upputhara — English Wikipedia contributors

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