PORVORIM: Almost four decades after Goa got statehood, the Romi Konknni script is still searching for love and respect.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has reacted to the ongoing demand for recognition to Konkani in Roman script, by categorically stating that there is no proposal to amend the Official Language Act, 1987.
As per the Official Language Act, 1987, the ‘Konkani language’ means Konkani language in Devanagari script is the Official Language, Sawant said, in a written reply to Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and Velim MLA Cruz Silva.
Sawant further said that considering the importance of literature in Romi script, the State government is releasing recurring grants to the private institution namely Dalgado Konknni Akademi for the development of Romi script in Konkani.
During the financial year 2023-2024, the Directorate of Official Language released grants of Rs 151.62 lakh to the Goa Konkani Akademi, while, the Dalgado Konknni Akademi received grants of Rs 29.61 lakh and Tiatr Academy Goa (TAG) got Rs 80 lakh.
The Chief Minister told them that a proposal to set-up the advisory board for implementation of Official Language was under process. Both the legislators had sought details of number of the meetings and minutes of the Advisory Board during the last five years.
They had pointed out that a large body of literature, theatre, films, spiritual and general communications exists and takes place using Roman script of Konkani.
A newly formed Global Konknni Forum has been spearheading demand to recognise Roman script in Konkani by amending the Official Language Act.
