With prices of gold shooting up, it’s probably the best timeto cash in. At least the goldsmiths think so.
Goldsmiths in South Goa and more importantly Canacona havefound a simple way to make big and fast money. Adulteration of gold.
Sources revealed goldsmiths in South-Goa, especially withinCanacona municipality have taken to adulteration of the precious metal withcopper and silver.
A traditional goldsmith from Chaudi informed The Goan, that98 percent of goldsmiths who come from the younger crop are out to make fastmoney by heavy adulteration.
Another goldsmith from Palolem informed that adulteration isdone as per the status of buyers. If the buyer comes from the elite classadulteration is to the extent of 10 percent. It is 15 percent for middle classand 25 to 30 percent if the buyers are from backward community.
Interestingly, a traditional goldsmith informed that ifsomeone buys gold on credit, the adulteration is again between 30 to 50percent.
In an interesting recent development, a customer demandedrefund for gold purchased from a young goldsmith at Chaudi, main Bazaar atCanacona. The customer noticed that her gold ornaments bought just a month backturned black due to heavy adulteration.
After initially refusing to the demand, the goldsmith askedfor receipt issued by him. Finally under public pressure he agreed to refundthe amount after 15 days.
“Most of the goldsmiths in Canacona refuse to issue properreceipt and if demanded offer a scribbled note. Even customers ignore and failto demand for a proper receipt,” informed former Sarpanch, Rajesh Gaonkar fromCotigao Village Panchayat.
In Goa no goldsmith workshops (karigar workshops) use“purity checking machine” (carat meter) informed another goldsmith SantoshVernekar. It was learnt that when one goldsmith from Margao tried to buy acarat meter he was stopped from doing so, as they could continue withadulteration of the yellow metal.
Sources disclosed that in most machine-made jewellery isadulterated with iridium. Overnight these manufacturers hit the jackpot. Mostmanufacturers and retailers across Goa are aware of this rampant and notoriouspractice.
In all these game of deceit the consumers are the biggestlosers, as they suffer the most at the time of selling the gold.
