The Hindu : National : It’s raining discounts

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Friday, May 08, 2009
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National

It’s raining discounts

IANS
New Delhi

Radhika Sharma, a 19-year-old student had two reasons to rejoice on Thursday. One, she cast her vote for the first time and second, her inked index finger is all she needs to avail of the ‘democracy discounts’ being offered by retail chains, cinema halls and restaurants in the national capital.

“I couldn’t wait for Thursday to dawn. To begin with, I am a first-time voter and I really wanted to do my bit in order to bring the change that we all keep talking about. Also, the fact that retail giants were offering discounts to anyone who cast their vote is an added incentive,” Ms. Sharma told IANS.

“My mother and I scanned the newspaper to find out stores offering discounts and decided on a trip to Big Bazaar and then to Bikanervala for a meal,” she said excitedly.

A number of outlets are offering ‘democracy discounts’ to anyone who had cast their vote.

Well-known food chain Bikanervala announced a 15 per cent discount in its restaurants from May 7-9 to anyone who had voted in the elections. Khan Market-based bookstore Full Circle and Cafe Turtle also announced election special schemes.

Similarly, multiplex chain PVR cinemas offered discounts on their meal combos to people who had voted.

“We are not offering discounts on the tickets. But on meal combos — and we have a whole range of them — we are offering a 50 per cent discount,” an official of the PVR cinemas told IANS.

Amusement park Splash Water Park is also offering a rebate of Rs.100 to voters.

However, not everyone was aware of it.

Devarshi Das, a student said: “I sent a message to the customer care number of Bausch and Lomb which has announced a free pair of contact lenses on showing the ink mark. However, I didn’t get any response from them.”

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