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Studies on angiosperm diversity and bio-monitoring with resource mapping in Nelliyampathy hills of southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India
(Post Graduate and Research Department of Botany Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, 2021) Jabeena M K; Maya C
The present study focuses on the angiosperm diversity of Nelliyampathy hills which lie on the south-western side of the Palghat Gap. The hill tracts flank an area of 206 sq.km. Even though many novel taxa had been identified and reported from the study area, a holistic study of angiosperm diversity is lacking. In this context, an attempt was hereby made to account the diversity of angiosperms, their habitat diversity, biomonitoring and resource mapping of Nelliyampathy hills. The extensive exploration resulted in the documentation of 1529 taxa under 142 families. Poaceae are the largest family followed by Fabaceae and Rubiaceae. Cyperus is the most speciose genera followed by Crotalaria, Ipomoea and Impatiens. Herbaceous taxa predominate the vegetation followed by tree members. Among the forest types, Evergreen forests form the prominent vegetation followed by deciduous forests and grasslands. This was reflected in the elemental composition also, where the evergreen elements account the highest in the study area followed by grassland elements and Moist Deciduous elements. The median altitude accounts for the highest diversity where the altitudinal zone of 900-1200 m forms the most diverse zone followed by the 600-900 m zone. The study could record 66 IUCN red listed taxa and 308 threatened species. About 25% of the collected taxa were found to be endemic to various geographical regions of the country. Apart from Indo-Pacific affinity, taxa are showing highest affinity towards African and South American kingdoms and least towards Australian. Due to the high wind velocity in Palghat Gap region, the concentration of anemochorous taxa is too high in the study area. Special adaptations like parasitism, semi-parasitism, saprophytism, carnivory, epiphytism and climbing habits could be observed among the vegetation. The frequency of chasmophytic taxa is also high since 36% of the collected taxa are showing chasmophytic nature. Adaptations like extensive root system, rosette or cushion-like habit, scapigerous nature, herbaceous habit, therophytic life- form, succulence, pubescence, subterranean perennating organs, semi-parasitism and carnivory were observed among these chasmophytes. About 25% of the collected taxa shows medicinal property and among them, herbaceous taxa are predominantly used in medicinal ailments. Phanerophytes is the predominant life-form in Nelliyampathy followed by therophytes. Seven novel taxa could be identified viz., Glycosmis nelliyampathiensis, Tripogon sp.nov., Ischaemum sp.nov., Eugenia sp.nov., Microstegium sp.nov., Fimbristylis sp.nov. and Peucedanum sp.nov. Reinstatement of Pachystoma hirsuta (Joseph & Vajravelu) C. S. Kumar 3& Manilal from P. pubescens Blume and Rhynchoglossum scabrum Dalzell from Rhynchoglossum notonianum (Wall.) B.L.Burtt. were proposed. Collection of Crotalaria priestleyoides Benth. ex Baker is a recollection after a century from Kerala part of southern Western Ghats. Out of the collected taxa, five hundred and eighty-eight taxa were found to be additions to the Flora of Palghat district (Vajravelu, 1990). Among them, 122 were having an extended distribution to Palakkad district. Forty-three monotypic genera were recorded from Nelliyampathy. Taxonomic singularity at genus level is 0.65 and at family level it is 0.42. Analysis of vegetation across Palghat Gap using PAST software reveals a difference in the species distribution between northern and southern sides of Palghat Gap. One hundred and nineteen taxa with ethnobotanical significance could be recorded from the two tribal colonies of the study area. Forest cover change analysis between two decades revealed that there is an increase in Evergreen Forest cover, deciduous forest cover and grasslands while the forest plantation areas and barren lands have decreased. Evergreen forests predominate the upper altitudinal zones while deciduous forests predominate the lower altitudinal zones. But NDVI analysis of forest cover in two different decades shows a marked deterioration in the health of the vegetation in Nelliyampathy. Slope-wise zonation depicts that the majority of the study area falls under gentle slope areas and steep slope areas. Majority of the land-slide affected areas mapped are either in the Ghat road or at the monoculture plantation areas. Uprooting of larger trees, opening up of canopy, diminishing of ground flora, heating up of forest floor and phenological shift are the major post-flood habitat modifications observed in Nelliyampathy. Seventy two alien invasive elements and 88 degraded forest elements were recorded which shows the degrading nature of the forest tracts of Nelliyampathy. Apart from the natural causes like natural calamities, forest fire and invasive species, there is too much of anthropogenic stresses in Nelliyampathy which includes plantations, tourism, plant introduction, agricultural practices, grazing, selective felling and encroachment to forest land, urbanization, habitat fragmentation by constructions, road construction in interior forests, plastic dumping and pesticide application in tea and cardamom etc. This in turn, calls for the need of proper conservation strategies in Nelliyampathy to maintain its natural vegetation.
Development and validation of a localised sustainable development goals framework for quality education and evaluating its effect on students from tribal communities in Attappadi
(N S S Training College Ottapalam, 2026) Sukanya K. U.; Seema Menon K. P.
Quality education central sustainable human development social equity emphasized Sustainable Development Goal However tribal communities India continue experience persistent educational disadvantages arising from socioeconomic marginalization linguistic barriers geographical isolation limited access culturally responsive schooling Kerala’s Attappadi regioninhabited primarily Kurumba Muduga Irula tribal groupsthese challenges reflected lower academic achievement weak life skills fragile teacherchild relationships despite multiple government interventions While global national frameworks articulate broad educational objectives there remains significant translating these goals into locally relevant measurable actionable educational strategies present study aims develop validate Localized Sustainable Development Goals LSDG Framework Quality Education evaluate effect tribal students learning quality academic achievement life skills Attappadi study adopts mixedmethods research design with singlegroup pretestposttest repeatedmeasures framework across three phases implementation 2022 implementation 2023 postimplementation 2024 representative sample 1,259 tribal students across Lower Primary Upper Primary High School levels selected from government governmentaided schools LSDG framework constructed localizing indicators into context specific educational variables focusing teacherchild relationships learning quality academic achievement life skills problemsolving critical thinking creative thinking Data were collected using standardized validated tools including TeacherChild Relationship Scale TARC Learning Quality Assessment Tool LQAT Life Skills Assessment Test LSAT supported interviews document analysis Content validity established through expertreview internal consistency confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha coefficients Quantitative data were analyzed using Repeated Measures ANOVA Bonferroni post tests Partial Squared determine changes across three phases while qualitative data were thematically analyzed capture stakeholder perspectives classroom practices study grounded rightsbased human development approach aligning educational quality with equity inclusion community participation study expected demonstrate that localized based educational governance leads significant improvements teacherstudent relationships learning environments academic performance life skills among tribal students bridging global principles with grassroots educational realities LSDG framework offers scalable evidencebased model strengthening quality education marginalized indigenous contexts thereby advancing commitment leaving behind.
Lessons and narratives in childrens stories a study of the select works of Sumangala K V Ramanathan and V R Sudheesh
(Vimala College Thrissur, 2026) Ramya K.; Hemamalini M.
Children's literature is a unique category in Malayalam literature. All children's writings are formed in accordance with the personality development, imagination, and mental states of children. As a literary form that recognizes and reveals these, children's narratives have great importance. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the narrative features of the selected children's narratives as they deal with diverse themes. By considering the three main genres prevalent in children's narratives, that is, didactic, science fiction and psychological narratives, this thesis tries to articulate, with the help of narratology, how different themes stand out in children's literature. To find out the characteristics of didactic narratives in children's literature, the works of Sumangala have been selected for the study. In the category of children's science fiction, the works of K. V. Ramanathan have been selected and the works of V. R. Sudheesh for the study of psychological narratives. The thesis explores the narrative features of children's stories and novels by applying narrative methodology and child psychology.
Transfer of resources and social sector expenditure with special reference to human development in India An empirical analysis
(St Josephs College Devagiri, 2025) Irfana P. P.; Shiby M. Thomas
This study analyses the interrelationships between Fiscal Federalism, Intergovernmental Transfers, Social Sector Expenditure (SSE), Social Sector Development (SSD), and Human Development across Indian states. Using a multidimensional framework that combines theoretical, descriptive, and empirical analyses, it examines how fiscal structures and public spending shape state-level development. India’s vertical fiscal imbalance, where states bear primary responsibility for social sectors while revenue powers remain concentrated at the Union level, makes intergovernmental transfers central to sustaining social investment. The study finds a sustained rise in SSE during 2004-2021, alongside persistent inter-state disparities. Southern and western states consistently allocate higher resources to social sectors, while several central and eastern states exhibit lower and more volatile spending. Education and health dominate SSE, though expenditure on social security, housing, nutrition, and livelihoods has expanded. SSD, assessed using the Social Progress Index (SPI) for 2015-16, 2017, ang 2022, reveals strong regional patterns, with southern and some north-eastern states performing better than central and eastern regions. Human development, as measured by the Human Development Index from 2004 to 2021, improved across all states but remains uneven. Panel analysis shows that SSE, Capital Formation (CF), Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Pension Expenditure (PE), and State-Wise Power Availability (SWPA) positively influence human development. In contrast, Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD) negatively affect it. Interpreted through the Capability Approach, the findings underscore the central role of effective fiscal transfers and social sector investment in expanding human capabilities and reducing regional disparities in India.
Transition experiential narratives A study on fishermens experiences of the Kerala coast based on the writings of A Andrews and Robert Panippilla
(Govt. Arts & Science College, Kozhikode, 2025) Bhuvaneswari K.P.; Sajeev P.V.
The genre of 'narrative of experience' is a cultural text formed through the process of constructing subjectivity. Departing from individual-centric European notions of autobiography, postmodern narratives of experience offer new possibilities for identity construction rooted in social awakenings and political contexts. Developed within the framework of coastal life, these narratives transform personal identity into a political and social agency. Focusing on the experiential narrative of A.Andrews and Robert Panippilla published between 1990 and 2018, this research analyzes the socio-political dimensions of coastal identity formation. Grounded in post-structuralist thought, the thesis examines autobiographical identity through the lenses of modernity, body, labor, gender, trauma, and sociality. The study is structured into an introduction, five comprehensive chapters, and a conclusion. The first chapter, Transition Experiences: Life Contexts, analyzes the socio-cultural transformations among the fisherfolk of the southern Kerala coast, while the second chapter, Transition Experiences: Theoretical Approaches, discusses the theoretical categories of transformation and identity. In the third chapter, Modernity and the Displaced, the research critically examines the struggles of traditional fisherfolk through the concepts of civilization and displacement. The fourth chapter, Alternative Narratives of Expertise, explores the narrative representations of traditional and modern skills, followed by the fifth chapter, Between Adventure and Lament, which investigates the multifaceted identity of the fisherfolk through the themes of lamentation and adventure. The final chapter provides a synthesis of these findings and discusses the broader implications of the study. By deconstructing the internal conflicts and power structures of the coast, this research seeks to reclaim the identity-history of a social group that has historically remained an 'absence' in the Kerala public sphere.