In a move that will provide relief for traditional stall vendors, it is learnt that these vendors will not have to pay the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) fees at the Panaji feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Stalls selling Goan products like roasted grams and ‘Khaje ’also known as ‘kadio-bodio’ are being allowed to operate free of cost. It is understood that these stalls have been exempted from paying the fees because of the challenges they had to face during the past two lockdowns and the pandemic. This is a step in the right direction and could be implemented in parishes where the feast is celebrated like the Holy Spirit Church at Margao and two rural parishes of Calangute and Moira in Bardez. It may be recalled that Goa received its 5th Geographical Indication (GI) in July 2020 for ‘Khaje’. The Bicholim based All Goa Khaje Producers Association (AGKPA) had applied for the GI tag of Khaje via the Department of Science and Technology, Govt of Goa in the year 2019. All civic bodies and panchayats could follow this move by the CCP.
