PANJIM: A day after Goa Bakers & Confectioners Association announced to hike ‘pao’ prices to Rs 5 from existing Rs 4 from October 10, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat has sought government intervention to stop the hike in bread prices in the interest of common man. 

Kamat has also urged Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant demanding immediate implementation of Dr Nandkumar Kamat headed task force committee recommendation to stabilize the prices of ‘pao’ and encourage the local ‘poders’ (bread makers). 

“I urge Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to immediately take steps to stop the hike in the prices Goan ‘pao’, which is local heritage and meets the nutritional demand of lakhs of people. I urge the Government to support the local bakers,” Kamat said in a press statement issued on Thursday. 

Kamat said that the hike in bread prices will severely hit the day to day budget of common man in such a time when people are facing financial problems on account of economic slowdown. 

“I would like to recommend the Government to implement the recommendations of the Task Force Committee which was constituted under the Chairmanship Dr Nandkumar Kamat in 2011. These recommendations will not only help in stabilising the prices but will also encourage the local poders,” former chief minister said. 

Kamat said that the Task Force Committee, which was constituted when he was the chief minister, had stated that since the local bread is local heritage and meets the nutritional demand of lakhs of people it is important to support the local bakers.

He pointed out that the committee had recommended that Government would give a flat 50 percent subsidy on raw material such as flour, sugar and yeast to stabilize the prices of bread and that effort should be made to provide these materials through Sahakar Bhandars.