This year, steel city residents will have an additional reason to step out of their houses and cast their votes.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, East Singhbhum district administration and local businessman cum social worker Pappu Sardar have tied up with shops to provide discounts to voters who show the indelible ink mark on their finger on May 12 (polling day) and 13.

The unique plan aimed at encouraging people to exercise their franchise will make voters eligible for discounts on the purchase of jewellery, stationery, electronic items, utensils, books, cakes and bikes.

District public relations officer Rohit Kumar and Pappu Sardar in a joint press conference on Sunday said the special discount would range between 5 per cent and 20 per cent.

“We are doing this to encourage voters and increase the voting percentage. So far, 31 shops have agreed to our proposal and decided to offer special discounts ranging between 5 per cent and 20 per cent. Voters will have to walk into the shops with which we have a tie-up and show the ink mark on their finger,” Kumar told the media.

Kumar said Dr S.K. Tiwary of Jeevan Jyoti Health Clinic in Sakchi had announced two days’ of free treatment at his clinic under the initiative.

People can also undergo health check-ups for free. Tiwary usually charges Rs 500 as consultation fee.

Pappu Sardar, who has a snacks corner in Sakchi and shares a good rapport with the businessmen community, said he was personally approaching traders, market committees and shopping malls in Sakchi and Bistupur and persuading them to be a part of this initiative.

“We are getting good response from the local business community. Apart from medical stores, a leading electronic store called National Electronics, Agarwal Book Store, Sachdeva Cycles, Due Honda (bike dealer), Baking Bond (a cake and pastry store) and several hosiery and utensils shops have decided to offer discount to voters,” he said.