MARGAO / PONDA
The strike by Goa Gold Dealers Association entered 13th day on Monday, even as some 68 jewellers held a protest in Margao.With placards in their hands, the jewellers demanded roll-back of 1% excise duty levied on the manufacturing sector in the recently announced Union budget. Addressing media persons on the sidelines of the protest, the association president Pramit Raikar said the strike will continue till March 17 after which the future course of action will be decided. “Until then, the jewellery establishments will remain closed,” Raikar added.He said the association will submit a memorandum containing their demands to South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar and North Goa MP Shripad Naik anytime as per the schedule of these elected Parliamentarians in view of the ongoing LS session.As of now, Raikar said the association has already submitted a memorandum in this regard to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. He claimed jewellery sale has already fallen in recent times due to increase in gold prices and in such situation the government has come up with this burden of excise duty. “Though the duty has been levied on manufacturing units with input of Rs 6 crore, it has an indirect effect on the retail jewellers in Goa as part of the finished jewellery products in hallmark form come from these manufacturing industries from neighbouring State, particularly Mumbai. Imposition of the duty on these industries will effect these industries and our retail trade in a big way. Jewellers are compelled to take this decision because it will create a huge liability for the small manufacturers as they mostly employ unskilled casual workers. This excise duty will also prove to be a setback for the organised jewellery sector,” adds the association.Ponda Gold Dealers Association President Rajendra Karekar said the government wants the youth take up this business and at the same time it is discouraging them by levying the excise duty. According to Karekar, gold artisans working in Goa are mostly from Bengal and they are not familiar with complex procedures of excise duty related to documentation work. “Even the customers who come to sell their gold will face loss due to this new process,” Karekar said. Secretary Giridhar Raikar, Damodar Raikar and others were present.
