Cherukupalle mandal

History

The village of Arepalli was granted as Inam in the year 1688 (Salivahana era 1610) by Rajas of Komaravole, residents of Nizampatnam to certain Brahmins for religious purposes. "A manual of Krishna District: Madras Presidency" compiled in the year 1881–82 also mentions the villages Ponnapalli and Arepalli as inam villages and the present area under Repalli Taluka. This area also finds mention in civil dispute case regarding Chennakesawara Swamy temple near cherukupalli in 1926 All India reporter

During freedom struggle, Nehru Granthalayam (library) was established in Gudavalli village as part of library movement to educate the people. Mahatma Gandhi visited the mandal in 23 December 1933 as part of harijan upliftment tour. He laid foundation for Vinayashram building in Kavuru village, opened temple for harijans and gave a short speech. A tree planted by Gandhiji in 1933 is still alive in this ashramam. Gandhiji again visited Vinayashram on 23 January 1937 during his tour of cyclone effected areas of coastal Andhra. Another ashramam (Maitreya Ashramam) to his memory was established in Gudavalli village and functions till date.

Sri Gollapudi Sita Rama Shastri (Swami Sitaram), a gandhian was instrumental in establishing Vinaya Ashram (now Krishi Vignana Kendra) in Kavuru Village. During Quit India movement, he led a group of people who set fire to Sub Registrar office at Cherukupalli. He also undertook fast unto death for creation of separate Andhra state from his ashram at Kavuru, but gave up his 35-day fast under the advice from Vinobha Bhave. On May 29, 1975 a group of naxalites attacked Cherukupalli police station and decamped with police weapons – a first in the state's history. This gave jolt to the police, who until then considered naxalites were confined only to the forests.

Geography

The mandal is bounded by Nagaram mandal towards south, Amruthalur mandal towards north, Pittalavanipalem mandal towards south, Bhattiprolu mandal towards east.

Climate

The mandal receives rainfall from South-West monsoon in the months of June-Sept. The average annual rainfall is 875 mm.

The average monthly rainfall in mandal is as follows

Demographics

As of 2011 census, the mandal had a population of 60,385. The total population constitute, 29,852 males and 30,533 females —a sex ratio of 1024 females per 1000 males. 5,371 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 2,748 are boys and 2,623 are girls. The average literacy rate stands at 66.88% with 36,795 literates.

Administration

The mandal consist 10 revenue villages, 16 panchayats and 49 hamlets.

The area used to be part of Tenali Taluka and later came under newly formed Repalle Taluka from 1909. Again in 1981–82 this mandal came under Pallapatla taluka after bifurcation of Repalle Taluka. Cherukupalli mandal came into existence from 25-5-1985 as per govt. decision to form new administrative units called mandals. The settlements in the mandal are listed below:

†−Mandal headquarters

Politics

Cherukupalli mandal falls under Baptla Parliamentary constituency, represented by Malyadri Sriram of Telugu Desam Party. It in turn is a part of Repalle assembly constituency, represented by Anagani Satya Prasad the same political party. The mandal administration is under the Cherukupalli Mandal Parishad, a local self-government, established under AP Panchayati Raj act, 1994. The present Mandal Parishad president is M.Parvathi of TDP. In the local government elections held in 2014, Pitlu Srinivasa Reddy won from Cherukupalli ZPTC (ZIlla Parishad Territorial Constituency).

The list of Mandal Parishad members elected in 2014 elections are as below.

The below table lists all the presidents elected for mandal parishad.

Economy

Mother Teressa Swachanda Seva Samstha at Cherukupalle and Sharon International Ministries at Kurrapalem, Gullapalli village are the only two NGOs in the mandal are cleared to receive foreign donations under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

Three Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Societies (PACS) are active in the mandal at Kavuru, Gudavalli, Nadimpalli. Milk Producers MACS (Nadimpalli, Cherukupalli, Vuchavaripalem, Pooshadapuvaripalem, Podilivaripalem, Ponnapalli, Balusulapalem, Gullapalli, Arepalli, Rajavolu, Kanagala, Gudavalli, Kaminenivaripalem, Yeminenivaripalem); Mutually Aided Coop.Thrift Village Societies (MACTVS) in all the villages the mandal; Cherukupalli Santhi Sree Mandal Women MATC Federation Ltd; Pagadavaripalem Mahila TMACPS; Pittukotireddypalem Mahila TMACPS are some of the other.

Education

66 Anganwadi Centres (AWC) operate in the mandal providing nutrition and pre-school education. The mandal has some of the oldest and famous govt schools like Muniwamy Nadiu ZP school, Gudavalli established in 1944, Cherukupalli ZPH school, Kavuru ZPH school. A Govt BC Boys welfare hostel is located at Gullapalli. Apart from this 1 SC boys hostel and 1 SC girls hostel also operate in the mandal. Kavuru govt junior college, Nagarjuna Junior College at Cherukupalle and Cherukupalle Junior College are the notable junior colleges in the mandal. 1 engineering, 1 polytechnic, 1 MBA, 1 Nursing, 3 degree colleges are operating in the mandal.

Culture

Prominent Telugu poet Tummala Seetarama Murthy who composed works like "Rastra ganamu", "Atmarpanamu" was born in Kavuru village of this mandal. He was awarded Sahitya Academy award in 1969.

Transport

No railway line passes through this mandal. The mandal is located along NH-214A national highway.