MARGAO: The traditional 50 gm loaf of pao and poie that was being sold for Rs 4 will cost Rs 5, from October 10, All Goa Bakers & Confectioners Association president Peter Fernandes announced. He added that the price will not be lowered even if the government initiates negotiations.
However, Fernandes said it was for the people to complain to the authorities if the loaves were smaller than 50 gms and disclosed that mid-day meal providers ask bakers to prepare smaller sized loaves to match the economics.
He refused to take responsibility on behalf of the bakers to go by government rules. He blamed the authorities, pointing out that the Food and Drugs Administration had announced that bread men should fix a signboard on vehicles used for selling bread, but has not taken action against those not using the signboards.
Speaking to media persons, Fernandes said they will shortly be presenting a representation to the Chief Minister, stating that they will increase the price of the bread as otherwise it is not viable to survive in the business, particularly in view of the wrong practices followed by migrants who have entered the trade now.
“Our own Goan bakers have leased their bakeries to migrants, while some have started their own and they follow all wrong practices, including totally unhygienic condition in which the bread is prepared,” he said, disclosing that they have surveyed all the bakeries in Goa, and Goans are managing less than 50 of them.
Fernandes said the cost of flour, firewood and labour has gone up significantly and thus it is becoming difficult for them to sell bread at the present price and because of this, the children of bakers are migrating abroad instead of continuing their ancestral business.
He said firewood is not available in Goa and has to be brought from Maharashtra, while the migrant labourers who were being paid Rs 17,000 last year are now demanding Rs 21,000 a month.
“We have asked the bakers to take all necessary permissions and licenses including those from the Goa State Pollution Control Board and Food and Drugs Administration,” he said, adding that the individual baker will be responsible if caught without licenses.
He demanded that the government constitute a committee to study their problems and find a solution to them and disclosed that the government has offered to provide an oven worth around Rs 2.5 lakh to the bakers.
“However, we have asked the government to instead give that amount to the bakers, so that they can use it improve their bakeries or maybe buy some other equipment while giving the ovens to those who desire it,” he said.
