Vella Eacharan

Vella Eacharan
Minister for Irrigation, Devaswom, Harijan welfare, Community Development, Colonization & Settlement, Government of Kerala
In office 4 September 1970 (1970-09-04) – 20 May 1977 (1977-05-20)
Governor	Venkata Viswanathan N. N. Wanchoo
Chief Minister	C. Achutha Menon
Succeeded by	K. K. Balakrishnan
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
In office 1970–1977
Succeeded by	M. A. Kuttappan
Constituency	Thrithala
In office 1977–1980
Constituency	Wandoor
Personal details
Born	July 9, 1918 Alathur
Died	11 February 1980(1980-02-11) (aged 61)
Spouse	Lakshmi
Children	Rajamma, Saralabai, Mrinalini
Alma mater	Board Middle School Alathur; Board School Koilandy; Co-operative Institute, Madras

Vella Eacharan Iyyani (9 July 1918 – 11 February 1980) was an Indian politician from Palakkad, Kerala and a member of the Indian National Congress. He was elected to 1st Lok Sabha in 1952 from Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency and to 2nd Lok Sabha in 1957 from Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency . Eacharan was the Minister for Devaswom, Harijan welfare, Community Development, Colonization & Settlement (1971-1977). He was elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly from Thrithala in 1970 and Wandoor in 1977.

Personal life

Vella Eacharan was born at Alathur on July 9, 1918, as the son of Vella and Velai. In 1943, he married Lekshmi and they have three daughters.

Political life

After school education and co-operative training from Co-operative Institute, Madras, he was in Government service (Clerk in Civil Supplies) during 1943–1951. However, he left Government service and entered politics as an active worker of the INC. Actively involved in harijan upliftment and Bhoodan work, Eacharan later served as a member of the First Lok Sabha and Second Lok Sabha. At the age of 33, Eacharan was elected to the first Lok Sabha in 1952.

Eacharan was subsequently elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly from Trithala constituency in 1970 and from Wandoor constituency in 1977.

Eacharan was the Minister for Devaswoms, Harijan Welfare, Community Development, Colonization and Settlement from 25.9.1971 to 25.3.1977, in the Ministry headed by Shri. C. Achutha Menon.

The landmark initiative of Special Recruitment for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Kerala Government service was started by Vella Eacharan in 1972.

During his tenure as Devaswom minister (1971–77), Eacharan introduced bills like The Guruvayoor Devaswom Bill,1971 and The Koodalmanickam Devaswom Bill, 1971 and The Travancore–Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions (Amendment) Bill,1974. Another major bill introduced by Vella Eacharan was the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Bill, 1975. He was the Founder of Nayanar Memorial Harijan Hostel, Alathur. He had also held several high positions in different walks of life including serving as

• Member of the Select Committee,

The Representation of the people (amendment) bill, 1958

• Member of the Joint Committee,

The Dowry Prohibition Bill, 1959

• Member, Estimates Committee, Lok Sabha (1961–62)
• President of Depressed Class League, Malabar
• All India (CWC) Congress Working Committee member
• All India Congress Committee (AICC) member
• Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) member
• Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Vice-president
• AICC Advisory Committee Member - Cell to Look After the Problems of Scheduled Castes
• President of Palghat Harijan Sabha
• Organiser of Harijan Yuva Jana Vidyalayam
• Member of Indian Central Arecanut Committee as also its representative on the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its Advisory Board
• Member of Area Committee, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, North Malabar
• Member of Malabar Harijan Sewak Sangh.

Death

Vella Eacharan died on 11 February 1980 and the Kerala State Legislative Assembly paid its homage to him on 18 February 1980.