Discounts in hotels, shops for better voter turnout

Discounts in restaurants and retail outlets are being offered by the district administration as an incentive to get young people to vote in the Lok Sabha elections for the Cuttack seat.
Voters in the age group of 18-35 will get 15 per cent discount in bills at Hotel Grand Residency here on polling day, while Reliance Trend, a retail outlet is offering 10 per cent discount on every purchase for April 17 and 18.
Similarly, Bharat Masala, a spice manufacturing unit has offered 10 percent discount on any purchase from five stores on polling day.
"In order to get these discounts, the voters need to carry their electoral photo-identity card to the stores and restaurants as proof of their age and must show the indelible ink mark on their fingers," said a press release by the district election office here today.

DEO and Cuttack collector Girish S N said that the Election Commission has approved the measure to encourage young voters to exercise their franchise.
"Discount offers for young and first time voters in hotels, restaurants and retail outlets are also provided in other parts of the country as well," he said.
Around 27,504 new voters in the age group of 18-19 have enrolled in the voters' list this year for the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat.