Strobilanthes is a shrubby flowering plant that belongs to the Family Acanthaceae and is placed as the second largest genus in this family. The genus comprises of about 350 species mostly native to tropical Asia and Madagascar.
The Indian subcontinent has nearly 150 species, out of which 59 are seen in peninsular India. The genus has shown uniqueness in territorial distribution as well as in ecological status. The most distinctive feature of the genus is its monocarpic or semelparous character (the plant has only one chance to reproduce in its life time) with synchronized gregarious flowering.
Flowering occurs after a predetermined period, after the plant has attained a specific age of physiological growth. However, the periodicity of flowering varies from species to species.
In Kerala we have approximately 40 species of Strobilanthes, of which the Eravikulam National Park alone holds 20 species with the richest species diversity and abundance in Peninsular India.
Eravikulam, with its innumerable biodiversity values, cloud-embraced majestic mountains, incredible valleys, pristine, dark green sholas and on the whole the grandeur of many microclimatic ‘types might have contributed to the emergence of the maximum diversity of this genus. Its significance pertains to the niche, habitat specificity of the genus, their close-knit intricacy with shola-grassland ecosystem and their degree of vulnerability.
Though many studies have been done and still more are ongoing regarding the reproductive strategies, floral traits, pollination biology, philological, genetic, physiological and medicinal characteristics, species distribution etc. This genus has still more chapters of mystery yet to be revealed.
Fig:Strobilanthes Kunthianus ((Neelakurinji)
Eravikulam National Park
Blessed with the rare strobilanthes species, the National Park has a varied range of flora and fauna. Orchids are one of the specialties of this park. There are around 29 Species of mammals out of which 5 are endemic to the Western Ghat’s.
The Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel and wild dog are common. Half the world’s population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr lives here. Panthers are usually sighted in the open grasslands while Civet cats and Jungle cats live in the Sholas.
There are also 140 species of birds of which 10 are unique to the Western Ghats. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world can be seen in this Park. More than 100 varieties of butterflies have been recorded here. 20 species of amphibians can also be found.
Fig: Nilgiri Tahr
Fig-Atlas Moth
Receive Daily Updates
Recent Posts
Petrol in India is cheaper than in countries like Hong Kong, Germany and the UK but costlier than in China, Brazil, Japan, the US, Russia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a Bank of Baroda Economics Research report showed.
Rising fuel prices in India have led to considerable debate on which government, state or central, should be lowering their taxes to keep prices under control.
The rise in fuel prices is mainly due to the global price of crude oil (raw material for making petrol and diesel) going up. Further, a stronger dollar has added to the cost of crude oil.
Amongst comparable countries (per capita wise), prices in India are higher than those in Vietnam, Kenya, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. Countries that are major oil producers have much lower prices.
In the report, the Philippines has a comparable petrol price but has a per capita income higher than India by over 50 per cent.
Countries which have a lower per capita income like Kenya, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Venezuela have much lower prices of petrol and hence are impacted less than India.
“Therefore there is still a strong case for the government to consider lowering the taxes on fuel to protect the interest of the people,” the report argued.
India is the world’s third-biggest oil consuming and importing nation. It imports 85 per cent of its oil needs and so prices retail fuel at import parity rates.
With the global surge in energy prices, the cost of producing petrol, diesel and other petroleum products also went up for oil companies in India.
They raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 10 a litre in just over a fortnight beginning March 22 but hit a pause button soon after as the move faced criticism and the opposition parties asked the government to cut taxes instead.
India imports most of its oil from a group of countries called the ‘OPEC +’ (i.e, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Russia, etc), which produces 40% of the world’s crude oil.
As they have the power to dictate fuel supply and prices, their decision of limiting the global supply reduces supply in India, thus raising prices
The government charges about 167% tax (excise) on petrol and 129% on diesel as compared to US (20%), UK (62%), Italy and Germany (65%).
The abominable excise duty is 2/3rd of the cost, and the base price, dealer commission and freight form the rest.
Here is an approximate break-up (in Rs):
a)Base Price | 39 |
b)Freight | 0.34 |
c) Price Charged to Dealers = (a+b) | 39.34 |
d) Excise Duty | 40.17 |
e) Dealer Commission | 4.68 |
f) VAT | 25.35 |
g) Retail Selling Price | 109.54 |
Looked closely, much of the cost of petrol and diesel is due to higher tax rate by govt, specifically excise duty.
So the question is why government is not reducing the prices ?
India, being a developing country, it does require gigantic amount of funding for its infrastructure projects as well as welfare schemes.
However, we as a society is yet to be tax-compliant. Many people evade the direct tax and that’s the reason why govt’s hands are tied. Govt. needs the money to fund various programs and at the same time it is not generating enough revenue from direct taxes.
That’s the reason why, govt is bumping up its revenue through higher indirect taxes such as GST or excise duty as in the case of petrol and diesel.
Direct taxes are progressive as it taxes according to an individuals’ income however indirect tax such as excise duty or GST are regressive in the sense that the poorest of the poor and richest of the rich have to pay the same amount.
Does not matter, if you are an auto-driver or owner of a Mercedes, end of the day both pay the same price for petrol/diesel-that’s why it is regressive in nature.
But unlike direct tax where tax evasion is rampant, indirect tax can not be evaded due to their very nature and as long as huge no of Indians keep evading direct taxes, indirect tax such as excise duty will be difficult for the govt to reduce, because it may reduce the revenue and hamper may programs of the govt.