Traditional bakers decry new subsidy scheme

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: The traditional bakers of Goa are upset over the 'Goa Traditional Bakers (Poders) Subsidy Scheme' announced by the government, which does not extend benefits to those who have not completed 20 years in the business, they claim.

The All Goa Association of Bakers at its special general body meeting, Sunday, has expressed unhappiness over the new subsidy scheme and wants the Goa Handicrafts Rural & Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd, the implementing agency, to clearly define the traditional bakers (poders) who are eligible for the scheme.

In a press note sent to the media Monday, President of the Association, Agapito Menezes said, “After the intervention of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, the bakers decided to reduce the price of bread from Rs 4 to Rs 3 in view of the assurance of a Re 1 subsidy.” The hike in bread price was declared in October last year.

Menezes points out that according to the scheme guidelines, only those who have completed 20 years in the bakery business are eligible for subsidy.

“What about those who have not completed 20 years? How are they expected to sell bread?”  quizzed Menezes.

It was also pointed out that the duration for the scheme is for three years whereas the bakers have to maintain the price for five years, which the association members feel is unreasonable as they would be left to fend for themselves for the next two years.

The association also discussed issues over the increase in price of ingredients such as maida, gas, diesel, petrol, labour and firewood. Menezes said, “In October 2012, a truck load of firewood was costing Rs 14,000 and now the cost has increased to Rs 21,000, that too is not available, since wood from neighbouring states has stopped coming to Goa.”

Menezes further said that a representation of the bakers to the government on all these issues will follow in due course. 

Speaking later to Herald he said that as per the guidelines of the scheme only 450 to 500 poders out of the 600 who are members of the association will get benefits under the scheme.

It is learnt that a poder making bread out of 50 kilos of maida a day will get a benefit of up to Rs 200 a day; those using 100 kgs will get Rs 350 and those using up to 150 kgs will get Rs 450 per day.

The bakers’ scheme will be channelized through HDFC Bank and the association and thereafter to the implementing agency who will reimburse the bills to the respective accounts.

So far no member of the association has initiated the process to take benefit of the scheme as they are waiting for some clarity from the government on the issues raised   by the association members .