To protect interests, traditional bakers to approach political parties

Team Herald

MARGAO: To resolve the issues and problems, besides to protect the interests of traditional bakers in Goa, All Goa Bakers and Confectioners Association (AGBCA) has decided to approach all the political parties with a memorandum in view of the upcoming elections. Bakers want their issue to be highlighted in the manifesto of political parties.  

“We have even decided to seek an appointment with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant for the last time, so that issues of traditional bakers are brought to the government’s notice “, said Peter Fernandes, AGBCA president. 

Speaking to Herald he said they have drafted a memorandum with all the details, including the problems and issues faced by the hundreds of traditional bakers of Goa. 

“We feel that this is the right time to approach the political parties, as the elections are approaching. Let those political parties know the hardship we, traditional bakers are going through”, he said. 

Peter opined that there are political parties who are preparing to contest the elections to give priority to the issue of traditional bakers in their manifesto. 

“Our association tried a lot to bring to the government’s notice with regards to the issues but not even concerned authorities or the Chief Minister acknowledged our memorandum. However, for the last time and that too before the elections we are planning to seek an appointment with Dr Pramod Sawant”, he said. 

It may be recalled that AGBCA had even claimed that they are forced to rent out their bakeries due to no support from the government, besides the youth are moving overseas for jobs. 

Traditional bakers are demanding subsidies from the government so that their traditional business is sustainable. They also claimed of are undergoing hardship with regards to labour, wood, etc. 

“The government has failed to hear our grievances, despite giving representation several times. The government is not even acknowledging our memorandum”, complained Peter. 

The bakers’ association president said 90 per cent of the traditional bakery business has been taken over by the outsiders, and at the moment only 8 per cent Goans are left in the business. 

“We have noticed that the government is lending a helping hand to all the other businesses in Goa, and only the traditional bakers are left with no support. There are schemes and subsidies for farmers and others and the government is hurting the bakery owners”, Peter claimed. 

The failure to do so by successive governments has deflated the businesses of these traditional Goan entrepreneurs so much so that most have left this trade for greener pastures.

According to them, there were 1,200 traditional bakers two decades ago and now there are around 500 to 600 local bakers, with non-Goans filling up the gaps and flooding the market with poor quality bread.

Why the recommendations made in 2011 by the task force chaired by Dr Nandkumar Kamat have been ignored, the traditional bakers asked.

The task force not only deliberated and assessed the problems faced by the bakers, but it had also outlined a detailed plan for supporting, reviving and promoting Goa’s bakery business.