Authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur city on Wednesday announced a 10 per cent discount on country liquor for people receiving the second and final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the move was sharply criticized by a local legislator of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in the state.
The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday announced a mega COVID-19 vaccination campaign to cover more population as part of its coronavirus vaccination programme. Mandsaur District Excise Officer Anil Sachan said that during this campaign, the people who won the second and last bet will be given a discount of 10 percent on country liquor.
The decision was taken to encourage people to take the second dose of the vaccine during the mega vaccination campaign, the official said. He said that if the experiment was successful, it would be implemented in other parts of the district as well.
Discounts can be availed on the purchase of country liquor at three shops located at Sitamau Phatak, Bhuniakhedi and Old Bus Stand.
However, BJP MLA from Mandsaur Yashpal Singh Sisodia has opposed this decision, calling it unfair. This is not a decision taken by the state government, and it will encourage people to consume alcohol, he said in a tweet.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had expressed concern over people not coming to take the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The state government has set a deadline of December-end to complete the vaccination of all eligible people.
Earlier this month, District Excise Officer RP Kirar of neighboring Khandwa district ordered liquor shops to verbally self-certify themselves about receiving vaccinations before serving them to customers.
A total of 8,12,79,730 doses of anti-coronavirus vaccine have been given in the state till November 23.
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