MARGAO
The Association of Goan Bakers on Saturday resolved to effect a one rupee hike in the price of the traditional pao.
Come August 1 and the existing Pao will now be available in the market at a price of Rs four instead of Rs three and the decision will be implemented by all members of the Association of Goan Bakers.
This was decided at the general body meeting of the Association held at the Grace Church hall, Margao on Saturday morning, wherein members contended that the one rupee hike will not help tide over the rising cost of raw materials, including fire wood and flour. They also pointed out to the confusion in the market over the decision of the Association of Confectioners and Bakers to manufacture pao at Rs three and Rs five respectively.
After the meeting, Association president Agapito Menezes told media that the Association has stuck to the decision to hike the price of bread by only rupee one, adding that pao will now be available in the market at Rs four from August 1. He was not specific on the exact size of the bread, saying the bread, with the present size, will be now be sold at Rs four in the market.
Asked whether the one rupee hike will help the bakers to tide over the problems of rising raw materials, including fire wood as argued by some members, Agapito said bakers will assess the situation and may be free to take a call on the price one year down the line.
The issue of migrants entering the traditional Goan occupation also came up for discussion at the general body meeting. Agapito pointed out that compared to North Goa, around 70 per cent of the traditional bakeries have been taken over by the migrants. “We have brought to the notice of the authorities how migrants trouble the traditional Goans engaged in the occupation. But, some of our own people have sold our bakeries to outsiders”, he said
When questioned whether the government subsidy scheme had failed to meet the requirements of the bakers, Agapito said Chief Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar was clear in telling the bakers that he has no money to offer subsidy for the pao, leaving them with no option than to effect a marginal hike. “The subsidy scheme was introduced during the tenure of then chief minister, Manohar Parrikar. We had at least four meetings with Parrikar since the scheme was not taking off. After the new Chief Minster assumed office, he said he has no money to fund the scheme”, he added.
