Novelty incentives by govt, community in India to facilitate vaccination

Nischal Sanghavi Wednesday 17th November 2021 05:31 EST
 
 

India scripted history with 1 billion Covid vaccine doses in nine months of vaccination programme rollout. It is no mean feat considering the high proportion of the uneducated and rural population with several disbeliefs and the wide religious diversity of the country.

One of the interesting things in the vaccination programme has been various innovative incentives offered to those who get vaccinated by the government, local bodies, community organisations, and also by some private businesses.

On 10th October Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation came up with a scheme to provide one litre of edible oil to all those who get vaccinated in their jurisdiction. Though a litre of edible oil costs less than £1, it served as an attractive incentive to many citizens, especially the underprivileged, as one litre is equivalent to a week's supply for an Indian family kitchen. With the scheme becoming a hit with labourers and in slum areas, it was extended to the other four districts.

On 14 October, the same administration officials came up with an additional scheme to provide all those taking the jab a ticket for an entry into a lucky draw. The draw has 25 Samsung mobile phones to be won each worth Rs 10,000 which is equivalent to around £100.

A public-private partnership that runs eight ropeways at different locations in India, offered free tickets as a celebration for reaching the 1 billion vaccination mark. According to Manoj Pawar, President of Usha Breco, the company that has commissioned and is running ropeway services at Junagadh, Ambaji, Pavagadh, Maa Mansa Devi & Maa Chandi Devi in Haridwar, Jatayupara and Malampuzha in Kerala and Maa Tara Tarini in Ganjam, Odisha. He mentioned that he had a scheme to give away free to and fro ropeway tickets to the first 100 people at each of these places on Sunday. However, a person needs to have taken both doses to get the free tickets. These 8 ropeways transport 8 million passengers every year.

Community leaders had arranged Sunday programmes in association with the administration. The programmes would be a happening get-together of community members where people who get their jab are treated for a buffet lunch. As per Hasnan Johar of Dawoodi Bohra Community, their community had organised group vaccination events. Community events give good leverage to vaccination as friends and family members encourage people to get vaccinated. A state-run nationalised bank has come up with an 'Immune India Deposit Scheme'. Under this scheme, a person who has taken at least one jab can earn 5.35% interest on their deposits as against 5.1% for others.

Apart from this many private businesses have come up with fancy schemes that will not only motivate people to get vaccinated but serve as a marketing tool for business. According to restaurant owner Paresh Patel, this scheme not only encourages people to get vaccinated, as that would enable them to straight away save some money but, also helps businesses gain a slightly upper edge in competition as some vaccinated people would choose us over other restaurants to take the benefit of the scheme.

Box Item

Some of the benefits for the vaccinated:

1. 1 litre edible oil-free with vaccine

2. Lucky Draw Ticket to win free mobile phone

3. Free Ropeway tickets

4. Discounts on food

5. 1-day free entertainment on DTH

6. Membership to premier loyalty program

7. Higher interest rate on bank deposits

8. Extended product warranties


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