Says Marathi managed backdoor entry into Official Language Act
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Goa Assembly witnessed a heated discussion on the official language issue Wednesday, as Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai tried to corner the government while seeking to know if the status of Marathi was on par with Konkani and alleging that Konkani language was not being given due importance.
Sardesai began the discussion during Question Hour asking the government what a student will tick mark on the answer sheet, to question about Goa’s official language.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar assured the State Legislative Assembly that both languages – Konkani and Marathi, will get their due share as per the Goa Daman and Diu Official Language Act. He also said that 51 percent Goans had recorded Konkani as their mother tongue.
Parrikar made light of Sardesai’s question by saying that he would not give answers to exam questions in advance.
Reading his reply, the chief minister maintained that as per section 3(1) of the Goa Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987 Konkani language in Devanagri script shall be the official language for all or any of the official purposes in Goa and Marathi language shall also be used for all or any of the official purposes.
Also, to a written question on “whether government considers Marathi to be on equal footing with Konkani in respect of various schemes; the justification for the government stand,” Parrikar replied that Directorate of Official Language has formulated a scheme known as “Scheme for Publication” wherein Marathi and Konkani books are considered for publication with same criteria.
“Invitation cards are also printed in Marathi language. Name boards are displayed in Marathi with other languages. This is justified as Marathi is also to be used for all or any of the official purposes, provided in the Goa Daman and Diu Officail Language Act, 1987,” the reply further said.
As per notification 1-1-87/OL&PG under the first provisio to sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987 (Act No. 5 of 1987) Marathi shall be used for the purpose of replies by the government whenever the communication are received in Marathi. Besides, five notifications were issued by the government in 2010 for use of Marahi language in the State.
Meanwhile, during the discussion, Sardesai alleged that Marathi had managed to get backdoor entry into the Official Language Act through different notifications issued till 2010. “Konkani has no special status in Goa. It is only for name sake. Will it be given special status?” he questioned, reminding the House of unanimously taking decision on Special Status for Goa, three days ago.
“Through the different notifications Marathi has managed to get the backdoor entry. The notifications issued by former Congress government have given it an equal status,” Sardesai said.
The legislator questioned the lesser number of Konkani primary schools, which is approximately 80 as compared to around 800 schools teaching in Marathi medium.
Parrikar, trying to defuse the controversy, assured that those students showing interest to pursue education in Konkani, government would render all possible help for infrastructure and grants.
The ruling legislators together tried to stop this discussion, arguing that there should be no disruption in the State over language. Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar intervened in the discussion requesting the Speaker to bring decency in the language spoken by the legislators on the floor of the House.
BJP MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh, apparently upset over Sardesai’s statement, also intervened claiming that Marathi’s status in Goa is not because of its position in the official language Act. “Marathi has its standard. No one could disturb the position of Marathi in Goa,” he said demanding from the legislator stop making wrong statements.
BJP’s Subhash Faldesai and Pramod Sawant urged that we should not fight over the language controversy.
“When government presented budget in Konkani, there were some members who said that they have not understood the budget,” he added.
Parrikar, who also holds the State Official Language portfolio, urged the members not to create unwanted controversy over the issue while also making it clear that 51 percent Gans recorded Konkani as mother tongue. “If we fight over the issue, Konkani language would be damaged as Marathi already has its base in Maharashtra. I will not allow the issue to be raised again… the working of the Assembly is already being conducted in Konkani language. For the first time, we ensured that IAS officers learn basics of Konkani,” he said trying to end the long debate.
