The Cuttack district administration is not only concerned for disabled voters alone, it has also spared some concern for young voters. The administration has made an attempt to woo young voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers by announcing discounts for them in restaurants and retail outlets.
Voters in the 18-35 years’ age group would get a 15 per cent discount in their bills at the Hotel Grand Residency in Cuttack on the polling day. The Reliance Trend, a retail outlet, is offering a 10 per cent discount on every purchase to the voters of this category for two days—on April 17 and 18.
Similarly, the Bharat Masala, a spices manufacturing unit, has also offered discount to young voters who would be casting their votes this time. A voter would get at least a 10 per cent discount on any purchase from at least five stores of this spices company in the city on the polling day.
“In order to get these discounts, the voters need to carry their electoral photo-identity cards (EPICs) 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 (DEO) here on Monday.
DEO and Cuttack Collector Girish SN said that the Election Commission of India has approved such measures to encourage the 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.It may be mentioned that around 27,504 new voters (18-19 years) have been enrolled in the voters’ list this year for the Cuttack lok Sabha seat and more than 18,000 of them are boys.