Team Herald
MARGAO: The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) will meet Nilesh Cabral, the MLA of Curchorem Constituency, as part of their “Amdharak Bhett – Kodel zai vo Romi Lipi zai” program.
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The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, December 22, at his office in Curchorem. GKF members will present two bills aimed at promoting Roman Script Konknni, in the hope of securing legislative support in the upcoming Assembly session.
Kennedy Afonso, President of GKF, emphasized the importance of meeting with all MLAs ahead of the upcoming Assembly session, which is set to begin on February 6, 2024. Afonso informed that the GKF would present two key bills to MLA Nilesh Cabral, urging him to advocate for them in the Legislative Assembly.
The first bill seeks to grant Roman Script Konknni equal status alongside the Devnagari script by amending the Official Language Act of 1987. This amendment would add Roman Script Konknni to the definition of the language, ensuring both scripts are recognized on an equal footing.
The second resolution proposes that Roman Script Konknni be introduced in schools, from Standard 1 to Standard 10, in a phased manner. According to Afonso, many children, especially from minority communities, face difficulties in learning Konknni in Devnagari script. Allowing students to learn Konknni in Roman Script would provide them with a script of their choice and strengthen the language.
Afonso also pointed out that the “one language, one script” policy, in place for the last 36 years, has failed to gain widespread acceptance. As a result, Konknni has been listed among UNESCO’s endangered languages.
The GKF has appealed to the BJP government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to allow a special session in the forthcoming Assembly to discuss the issue of Roman Script Konknni.
Through these efforts, the GKF aims to promote the preservation and growth of the Konknni language by recognizing both the Devnagari and Roman scripts.
