SHG protests ESG's high fees for food stall at IFFI venue

The Goan Network
Panjim
A Goan self-help group (SHG) from Ponda, that had been selling Goan delicacies at the main IFFI venue for seven years now, will not be setting up their food stall this year. The reason being, that for the first time this year, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has allegedly asked for Rs 50,000 to set up their food stall near the main venue, which the SHG finds unreasonable.
Some women from the group have been silently protesting outside Maquinez Palace since the day IFFI began.
Vaishali Naik, president of Satpurush SHG explained that they had been allotted a place near Jogger's Park, Altinho, where films are also being screened. However, she felt that this would not be profitable to the group as it was too far from the main IFFI venue.
"Besides we were given the timing of 5 pm to 10 pm. We fear that most non-Goan delegates are not going to come there, and Goan delegates would not be interested in eating our food," said Naik. "We have seven years experience serving Goan delicacies at IFFI so we are disappointed," she said.
When the SHG approached top ESG officials to set up their stall near the main IFFI venue, they were told that they would have to pay a fee of Rs 50,000 for the same. "We cannot pay Rs 50,000," said Naik.
For the last several years at IFFI, the SHG had been operating at the Forest Department Park near Mahavir Garden. The food prepared by the group is typically Goan with dishes like kothkothe, patollyo,and tizaan to name a few.
Naik also lamented that at this year's IFFI, there was not sufficient representation given to Goan-food stalls. "We haven't seen a single stall preparing Goan dishes," said Naik.
When contacted, top ESG officials declined to comment.