The price of home-delivered traditional bread (pao) will reportedly go up by Re one and will cost Rs 5 from October 1. It may be recalled that the price of traditional pao was last hiked from Rs 3 to Rs 4 way back in August 2016. Given the increase in the price of raw material, labour and working costs, a hike in the price of pao was always on the cards. While the government has supported other various traditional professions, it has failed to support the traditional Goan bakers. Most of the bakery businesses are being run by family members without any welfare schemes coming from the government. It is understood that all bakers have been asked to switch over to electric or gas ovens from the wood-fired ones. The decision has been made since use of firewood ovens causes air pollution in the cities. However given the rising price of LPG gas and electricity charges it remains to be seen as to whether switching over to electric and gas ovens will be a viable option. It is pertinent to note that the taste of pao baked by electric and gas oven may not be the same as compared to that baked by firewood.
