MARGAO
The humble Pao will be sold at Rs 5 per piece across the state from November 1.
This decision was taken at a meeting of the All Goa Association of Bakers in the city here on Saturday morning. The meeting took place around the same time when members of the All Goa Bakers and Confectioners Association staged a protest behind the Margao Municipal building calling for the sale of Pao at Rs 5 per piece.
After the meeting of the All Goa Association of Bakers, Association president Agapito Menezes said it has been decided that all the members of the Association will sell Pao at the rate of Rs 5 per piece from November 1. “We had held this meeting to finalize the rate of the Pao. It has been decided that Pao weighing 50 grams will be sold in the market for Rs five per piece from November 1. The new rate had come into effect from October 1, and was implemented almost across the state, barring Margao. Now, the Pao will be sold at a uniform rate of Rs 5 “, he said.
Menezes said while the Pao will be available in wholesale for Rs 4, it will be available in the retail market for Rs 5 per piece. “There were some issues relating to the sale of Pao in the wholesale fish market as there were reports that it was sold at different rates. Now, it has been decided that Pao will be sold at wholesale rate of Rs 4 for the hotels, gaddas, omletepav kiosks, institutions, hospitals, etc. At the counter, the Pao will be sold for Rs 5”, Menezes added.
Justifying the hike in the price of Pao, Menezes said the price of raw material of all items, including firewood, petrol and diesel, besides flour have gone up substantially in recent time.
When asked to shed light on the complaints about the poor quality of the Pao sold in the market, Menezes shot back saying that bakers from outsides the state, hailing from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karwar, Kerala have reduced the price of Pao by compromising on its quality. “They are not issuing the proper ingredients as a result of which they maintain the weight while selling the Pao at less price. But, this Pao produced in the morning cannot be consumed in the evening”, he added.
To another question, he said the Association of Bakers have stopped seeking government help and assistance in carrying out the traditional occupation, charging successive governments have not helped to bail out the traditional occupation. “We are not demanding anything from the government since our meetings, numbering around 25, did not help in any way to bring a turnaround in the business. Hence, we have taken a stand not to make any demand, knowing that the government will never accept our demands”, he added.
Association Joint Secretary Conceicao D’Costa said the confusion over the price of Pao had primarily arisen since one Association had taken the decision without taking into confidence all the bakers.
Bakers affiliated to the All Goa Bakers and Confectioners Association staging a protest behind the MMC building against some bakers for not implementing the price hike. Santosh Mirajkar
Warning of legal action against
bakers opposing the price hike
MARGAO: Members of the All Goa Bakers and Confectioners Association staged a protest behind the Margao Municipal building to protest against those bakers responsible for creating confusion over the price of Pao.
Association President Peter Fernandes told the media that the bakers are forced to protest against those bakers, who were instrumental in getting the price of Pao reverted back to Rs four per piece after it was agreed by all the bakers to sell the pao at Rs 5 from October 1.
He further threatened to initiate legal proceedings against these bakers for constantly coming in the way of moves to hike the price of Pao since the last couple of years. “We will take legal action against these bakers if they don’t accept the new rate. We are also planning to take direct action against these bakers, who are causing losses to the bakers at large by selling the Pao at the old rate of Rs 4”, he warned.
