Shopping Comes With Discounts For Vaccine Recipients In This Odisha Town

Berhampur: The residents of Hinjili in Ganjam district will get at least 5% discount while purchasing groceries from shops in the town. The condition is that the buyer seeking the discount must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The move is aimed at ending the reluctance among people of getting vaccinated as well as to create awareness.

At least 10 shopkeepers have made this offer following appeals from the authorities of Hinjili municipality.

“We have only requested the traders to offer some discount to the consumers who have been fully vaccinated. At least 10 grocery shop owners have agreed to offer a 5% discount on the purchase of ration,” the Executive Officer of Hinjili Municipality, Manorapjan Sahu, was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Sahu, however, added that the civic body would not bear the compensation of the losses incurred by the shop keepers in the process. “They can compensate for the losses from the profits they make. It is part of an initiative of community participation to boost the vaccination drive against COVID-19,” he said.

“We will offer a 5% discount on the total purchase of groceries if the buyer shows his/ her vaccination certificates,” a shopkeeper said.

Such initiatives will also be taken up in some other urban areas in Ganjam district, including Berhampur, to encourage people to get vaccinated,

“We are in talks with the Ganjam Chamber of Commerce. Our aim is to achieve 100% vaccination coverage in the district at the earliest,” an official said.