The district administration of Jhalawar in Rajasthan has chosen an intriguing strategy for their 2019 Lok Sabha polls’ voter awareness initiative. The mascot that they have selected for this program is the Alexandrine Parakeet, which also goes by the name Gagroni Parakeet. This fascinating bird species is not only integral to this campaign, but its conservation is also a significant focus for the administration.
The Engagement of Alexandrine Parakeet in Voter Awareness Program
Also known as Gagroni Parakeet, after Gagron fort situated in Jhalawar, this bird is renowned for its ability to mimic human voices. The Jhalawar district administration has opted to use this distinct feature to their advantage. To enhance the voter awareness program, the administration has produced a cartoon series centred around the Gagroni Parakeet under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme.
The Role of SVEEP in the Voter Education
The SVEEP programme was launched by the Election Commission of India in 2009. Its primary goal is to educate voters, raise awareness about electoral processes, and foster voter literacy across India. The program’s design takes into consideration various factors such as socio-economic attributes, cultural peculiarities, and the demographic profile of each state. It also draws upon historical data related to electoral participation in previous elections and relevant learnings thereof.
| Year of Establishment | Main Objectives | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Voter education, spreading voter awareness, promoting voter literacy | People of India across socio-economic, cultural, and demographic spectrum |
Significance of Alexandrine Parakeet
The Alexandrine Parakeet, which serves as the mascot of this voter awareness program, is a native bird species of South and South East Asia. It enjoys protection under Schedule 1 (B) of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) instituted in 1972. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List has classified the bird as ‘Near Threatened’. Additionally, it is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
This specific parakeet species is easily identifiable by its male members who sport a red ring around their neck and red spots on their wings. Unfortunately, due to excessive poaching for household pet use and meat consumption, coupled with widespread habitat destruction, the bird population has seen a sharp decline over the years. Therefore, while the district administration of Jhalawar utilises this bird as a voter awareness mascot, they are also actively engaged in its conservation.