IN a last ditch attempt to save their livelihood, the Little India Traders of Foster Street in Dandenong held a blessing ceremony for Premier Ted Baillieu last week in the hope he would come to the once-popular precinct and see their plight.

But the guest of honour was nowhere to be seen last Tuesday. Disappointed traders and religious leaders conducted the blessing ceremony for Mr Baillieu's upcoming super-trade mission to India without him and his planning minister Matthew Guy.

The ceremony was a cry for help from traders who had fallen on hard times after the former Brumby government acquired their stores in 2008 as part of the revitalisation of Dandenong.

Foster Street Traders association spokeswoman Kaushaliya Vaghela was disappointed but not surprised the Premier had not attend.

"Unfortunately, this probably shows that Ted Ballieu doesn't care what's happening to the traders over here," she said.

"It's quite ironic, when you're going overseas, to convince the investors over there to invest money in Victoria while businesses who have already invested money here are getting ignored. It's quite important that this message goes to the Ballieu government and they come and sort out the issues.

''Traders have been left in limbo. It's very hard for the traders to earn a living in a construction zone. We want some sort of help and ongoing support from the government."

Opposition leader Daniel Andrews attended the event and called for the government to treat the traders fairly.

"When I met the traders group here last year, the biggest concern was that different businesses had been treated differently.

"The lack of consistency was a cause of great concern and really they have been getting the run around for some time."