Discounts being offered by traders in Assam's Hailakandi to encourage voter turnout

Hailakandi, April 9, 2019:

Attractive discounts up for grabs for those who vote!

A slew of discounts has been announced by merchants of Hailakandi for the voters of Hailakandi district who will cast their franchise in the Parliamentary Elections on April 18.

Following an appeal by District Election Officer, Keerthi Jalli, the Hailakandi Merchants' Association, Drugs Dealers' Association, Gold Dealers' Association and Hotels and Restaurants Association agreed to provide discounts on a range of merchandise products, medicines, gold making, and concession on accommodation to the voters who will turn up to vote on polling day. The offers are up for grabs for two days on April 18 and 19.

Even owners of food outlets and hotels have offered discounts ranging from 10 to 15 percent while pharmacists announced four percent discount on medicines to the voters exercising their franchise jewelry shops have announced a flat 15 percent off on making charges.

Thanking the merchants' association, drugs dealers, owners of food outlets, hotels and jewellery shops for coming forward to offer discounts to voters, DEO Jalli said the initiative has been taken by the district administration in collaboration with local merchants associations to attract voters, especially urban voters who usually show less interest in voting compared to their rural counterparts. "In sync with our motto of celebrating the election as a Utsav (festivity), this is yet another unique initiative of the administration in league with local merchants associations to offer discounts on medicine and on an array of products for those who come out to vote on April 18," said Jalli.

SVEEP and Media Cell Officer In-charge Tridip Roy said, "We are in the run-up to #Deshkamahatyohar and #HailakandirGonotontrerMahaparban. In a unique first of its kind initiative in the entire state, the DC requested local merchant associations to come forward and join hands with the administration in increasing voter turnout in town areas where usually urbane residents don't go to vote. We are very happy that the associations have come forward and matched our enthusiasm. To attract such voters, attractive discounts are being offered in celebration of the festive bonanza.

We request all to go out and vote on April 18 and make use of this unique opportunity."

For any voter who can show the indelible mark on their finger, discounts shall be given by various shops.

The district administration has taken a slew of initiatives to ensure cent percent voting, including distribution of sanitary napkins free of cost to woo women voters.