Panaji: As the Goa bakers announces to hike ‘pao’ prices from October 10, Leader of Opposition Digamber Kamat has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take steps to stop the proposed price rise.
“I urge Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to immediately take steps to stop the hike in bread prices Goan ‘Pao’ is local heritage and meets the nutritional demand of lakhs of people . I urge the Government to support the local bakers,” Kamat said in a press statement issued on Thursday.
Goa Bakers & Confectioners Association on Wednesday announced to hike ‘pao’ prices to Rs 5 from existing Rs 4.
Kamat said that the hike in bread prices will severly hit the day to day budget of common man in such a time when people are facing financial problems on account of economic slowdown.
“I would like to recommend the Government to implement the recommendations of the Task Force Committee which was constituted under the Chairmanship Dr. Nandkumar Kamat in 2011. These recommendations will not only help in stabilizing the prices but will also encourage the local ‘Poders’,” former Chief Minister said.
He pointed out that the committee had recommended that Government would give a flat 50 percent subsidy on raw material purchase such as flour, sugar and yeast to stabilize the prices of bread and that efforts would be made to provide these materials through Sahakar Bhandars.
Committee suggested that Government should subsidize electric baking ovens to save firewood and attempts should me made to procure firewood and supply it through forest department to local bakers at subsidized rates.
Government should sanction power and water tariffs to bakers at consessional rates, All the Poders and their families should be insured under Group Insurance Scheme, Considering the importance of microente rprise involved in door to door supply of local bread, Government would give 50 percent one time subsidy for purchasing bicycles and locally made bamboo or cane baskets for marketing, were the other recommendations.
