Goan pao to be dearer from July 1

Team Herald

MARGAO: The traditional Goan pao is set to become dearer by Rs 2 from July 1. 

The All Goa Bakers’ and Confectioners’ Association has announced that 50 grams pao, which was sold at an earlier rate of Rs 3, will now cost Rs 5. However, 30 grams pao will be sold at Rs 3. 

Addressing a press conference at Margao on Thursday evening, Association president Peter Fernandes said, “small and medium bakery industries run the show somehow or the other, but for us traditional bakers, the expenses have always increased, and the competition from non-Goans has affected our business”. “The non-Goans have entered this unorganised sector and have started selling pao at low rate for short term profits,” he added. 

He further said, “Bakers are in a SOS like situation just like the farmers situation in Maharashtra who committed suicide over huge debts”.

Fernandes further informed media persons that there are over 500 bakers of which 90% are non-Goans. These are the bakers who have rented their bakery and have settled abroad. The main issue of the bakers is firewood, which has been hiked from Rs 5,000 to Rs 14,000, he added.

While auctioning the firewood, Fernandes appealed to the Government to accord top priority to the bakers through a special provision by making 50 percent firewood available for bakers. 

He requested for a simplified single window system for procuring firewood and informed that “the formalities for procuring firewood is lengthy process and small bakers who not registered under sales tax and income taxes find it difficult to procure the same. 

He said, “We are proud to inform the public that we do not use Potassium Bromate and the people can rest be assured that the Goan Pao is safe”.

Fernandes said, “We met the members of the Association and took their suggestions regarding the pao hike and other decisions. The association plans to have a registry of bakers and classify them into various genres like wholesalers, retailers and sellers. This will prove handy when actual problems crop up,” Peter said.

“We plan to start massive membership drives of the bakers and confectioners. We will categorise them into traditional bakers who run the business and those who have rented it out, confectioners and also quantify the direct indirect labourers required for the industry,” Peter further stated.

The Association has also decided to meet the government authorities and apprise on the situation,” Peter added.