Team Herald
MARGAO: The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) has stressed that the Goa Official Language Act (OLA) can only be amended by the passage of a Bill or resolution in the Legislative Assembly, and it is the duty of elected MLAs to listen to the people’s demands and enact the necessary legislation to give Roman script equal status.
Speaking at a press conference, GKF President Kennedy Afonso, along with Secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes and Xavier Mascarenhas, announced the launch of the ‘Meet Your MLA – Kodel Zay vo Romi Zay’ campaign from September 23. This initiative is part of the ongoing movement to demand eqfgtrfvcual status for the Roman script in the OLA.
“GKF aims to meet all the MLAs of Goa, with a delegation of people from their respective constituencies, to have a peaceful, positive, and constructive interaction,” Afonso said.
He added that people from each constituency would hand over drafts of two Private Members’ Bills to their MLAs, requesting them to propose and pass the Bills with the support of the ruling government during the forthcoming winter Assembly session.
The first meeting with Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco is scheduled for September 23. Afonso clarified that these meetings are not intended to intimidate or pressure MLAs but to give them an opportunity to understand the concerns and aspirations of the people.
Jose Salvador Fernandes argued that the OLA discriminates against the Catholic minority community and violates Article 29(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees linguistic minorities the right to safeguard their language, script, and culture.
He also recalled that the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had publicly promised to introduce Konkani in Roman script in schools through an ordinance, but this promise remains unfulfilled. “This is an opportunity for CM Pramod Sawant to honour Parrikar’s commitment and show the world that Goa is indeed a land of unity in diversity by allowing Konkani in Roman script to be taught in schools,” Fernandes concluded.
Velim MLA urges Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities to rectify injustice to Romi users
MARGAO: Cruz Silva has called on the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities to recognise the importance of Roman script within Goa’s Official Language Act, citing Article 29(1) of the Constitution.
In a letter to the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Silva highlighted the serious injustice faced by users of the Roman script. He argued that the Official Language Act of Goa currently grants official status only to Konkani in the Devanagari script, effectively sidelining the Roman script and diminishing the State’s linguistic diversity.
“The omission of Roman script in the Act is the greatest betrayal of the people’s wishes, especially those of the linguistic minority community, who fought for Konkani to be recognised as Goa’s official language. Seven people even became martyrs during the historic 1987 Konkani language agitation,” Silva stated.
Silva further criticised the treatment of the Roman script over the past 36 years, accusing political powers of neglecting the script for selfish reasons and political gain. He noted that Roman script is not allowed to be taught in schools, forcing children from minority communities to learn Konkani in Devnagari, a script they often struggle with.