Badagam

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Badagam had a population of 720. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Badagam has a literacy rate of 95%, higher than the Gajapati district`s average of 61%.

The majority of the people residing in Badagam are Hindu. Christians are the second largest religious community.

State-->Odisha, District-->Gajapati district, Tahsil-->Parlakhemundi, Village-->Badagam, Male Population-->640, Female Population-->660, Total Population-->1300

History

The Routhu, Sivala, Binnala, Kappala, and Gedela are the known and ancient families staying here for the last 100 years since the Madras Presidency days.

After the formation of Odisha Badagam was earlier under the Ganjam district which is now part of the new Gajapati district which came into being with effect from 2 October, 1992. Prior to this it was a part (Sub-Division) of Ganjam district.

Geography and climate

Landscape Badagam lies in the south-east of the east Indian state of Odisha. It is close to the banks of Mahendratanaya River and few miles away from the Bay of Bengal. The climate is subtropical with high humidity. The temperature varies between 18 and 48 degrees Celsius. Summer is extremely hot with some thunderstorms and minor cyclones. Badagam receives rainfall from the southwest monsoons, and the wettest months are July, August and September.

Education

Schools located in the village include Govt Boys' High School built by Gopi Nath Naidu few decades ago and now dedicated to the Government of Odisha. The Famous SKCG College and Centurion University are just few miles away. Literacy rate has rapidly grown up in the last decade. People started focusing towards technical education, and there are many employees across India and the globe (Singapore, US, Dubai) who represent Badagam. Most of the employees of Badagam are teachers and Army personnel representing India.

Badagam Govt. School --> Primary School

NM High School, http://www.naveenpatnaik.com/Narayanpur-Panchayat-2084.html-->High School

SKCG and Centurion University -->Graduation and PG schools

Civic Administration

This village comes under the Narayanapur Panchayat and Rayagada Block. It comes under the Gajapati district where Parlakhemundi is the headquarters.

Economy

Agriculture is the main source of income. The village has around six rice mills and six cashew factories providing employment to the residents of the village and other neighboring villages in the Rayagada Block and Gajapati district. Average income of this village is 8000 per month, much better than the average income of the district and state. With the labour cost increasing day by day, people are slowly migrating to business. Farmers/Landlords here are now outnumbered. Labour from this area is migrating to Hyderabad of neighbouring AP.

Transport

Badagam is connected to other parts of Odisha by the State Highway No. 17 which connects Berhampur at one end and Rayagada on the other. The nearest major town Parlakhemundi is just fifteen kilometers. Palasa is just forty kilometers away and Berhampur is 120 km away. The nearest National Highway (N.H–5) junction is at around forty kilometers from Badagam. The nearest operational railway station is Parlakhemundi which is 15 km away. The narrow gauge railway line (called Naupada-Gunupur Rail line) running through this town has been converted to broad gauge, and starting 20 December, 2010 a regular train started from Paralakhemundi to Puri.

The nearest Airport is the Visakhapatnam Airport, which is at a distance of 180 km.

The O.S.R.T.C. (Odisha State Road Transport Corporation) and private buses connect the town to other parts of Odisha and nearby towns of Andhra Pradesh. The town is well connected to Bhubaneswar, Bramhapur, Rayagada, Jeypore, Gunupur, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Palasa, Bhawanipatna, Nabrangpur, Cuttack, Rourkela, etc. by road.

Politics

Legends like Venkata Swamy Naidu, Gopinath Naidu, Brindavan Naidu and Seetapathi Naidu, Udaya Chandra Rao Naidu are the famous faces of this small village who have strived for the people's growth. These great leaders have taken the village's pride to the next level, which is the Narayanapur Panchayat. -->Seetapathi Naidu is another famous politician from this place who has taken the village's name to the district level. Badagam and its people could see the growth only under his leadership. He could get the Motors and Borewells fighting with the Government. Agriculture started shining from then on. All the backward castes could get the benefits under his leadership. He was the ZP member of the Rayagada block for 5yrs. Routhu Jotamma was the chairman for the Rayagada block from this village. After that no one has been elected to any other nominated posts at the district and block level. Chandra Sekhar Kappala is the current samiti member from this village for the Narayanapur Panchayat. Badagam is part of Brahmapur (Lok Sabha constituency) and part of Rayagada block (Assembly constituency).

Sports

Cricket is the major sport of the village, while volleyball is the second most popular sport. Little boys and girls can still be seen playing silly games on the streets in the evening. People celebrate Cricket matches by watching on the street roads.

Attractions nearby

Badagam is surrounded by Hills. It has a Shiva Temple, Hanuman Mandir and Potuluri Veera Brahmam temple. There are couple of ponds, mango grooves, cashew crops and paddy fields. Badagam looks awesome in a monsoon. The best season here is July through October. It is the rainy season where you can see the Village colourful and in green. Gandahathi waterfalls is few miles away from Badagam. The Maharaja Palace in Parlakhemundi and the Brindavan Palace in Pathapatnam are less than 15 km from Badagam. The Bay of Bengal Sea is just 20miles away, and the Mahendra Giri Hills are reachable with less than 25miles. The Mahendra Tanaya River is just 2miles away from Badagam.