In an embarrassment to State, CM admits that of 112 govt depts’ websites, only 12 are in Konkani

PANJIM: In a major embarrassment to the State government, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that only 12 government departments’ websites are in Konkani of the over 112 websites – which are all in English, but was quick to state that there is no provision in the Official Language Act for penal action for non-use of Konkani. 

He made statement when the Opposition members pointed out that the websites of most government departments were not in Konkani. 

Replying to a postponed starred question jointly tabled by Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai regarding websites and correspondences in Official language,  Sawant said that only 12 government departments’ websites are in Konkani of the over 112 websites, which are all in English. 

However, he assured members that many more websites will be updated in Konkani and English by February 4, the Official Language Day. 

Sawant also assured members that the government will revive the Advisory Board for effective Implementation of Official Language Act, 1987 and also enhance the grants released to the Goa Konkani Akademi. 

The government has now taken the Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) onboard as designated agency and added that websites of most departments will be updated within a short span of time even as opposition sought a specific deadline.  

“There is no provision for penal action in the Official Language Act, 1987 for non-use of Official Language in Konkani. It is needed and if required we will make it mandatory for departments to implement the Act,” the Chief Minister said.

The Opposition members questioned the commitment of the government to Konkani due to the drastic reduction in grants released to the Goa Konkani Akademi and other Konkani-related organisations.

D’Costa said that though the government departments have options, the contents were not available in Konkani. He also expressed his concern over the drastic reduction in grants released to the Goa Konkani Akademi from Rs 1.63 crore during 2018-2019 to Rs 1.5 crore in the current financial year.

Sardesai said that the Advisory Board was constituted way back in 2012 and that only 18 per cent of the departments had updated their websites.

Sant Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said that competitive examinations like Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) and documents like Official Gazette be published in Konkani.