MARGAO
The movement for granting equal status for Konkani in Roman script received further boost on Sunday after a number of gram sabhas adopted unanimous resolutions in support of the demand.
The ordinary gram sabhas of the village panchayats of Telaulim, Ambelim and Velim adopted unanimous resolutions for recognition to Konkani in Roman script. The extra-ordinary grams sabha meeting of Benaulim panchayat also adopted a resolution in support of Romi Lipi.
In fact, the gram sabha of the Benaulim discussed the matter regarding grant of official script status to Roman script along with Devnagiri by amending the Official Language Act, 1987.
The panchayat had roped in Roman Konkani protagonist Jose Salvador Fernandes as a resource person to shed light on the demand and explain to the members.
After discussion, the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Xavier Fernandes resolved that the omission of Romi script in the Official Language Act, is considered as the greatest betrayal of the peoples’ wishes, specially of the Catholic minority community, who fought to make Konkani as official language of Goa, during the time of the Konkani language agitation of 1987.
The resolution further pointed out that it has been 37 long years since the Roman script suffered great injustice and discrimination, from subsequent governments that came into power. The resolution accused successive governments from 1987 as being responsible for this divide and injustice to Roman script, and they do not have the inclination to amend the Official Language Act, so as to make Roman script as official script of Konkani along with Devnagiri.
It was pointed out that the State of Goa till today does not have a minority community cell to look into the many grievances of the minorities. As such the gram sabha resolved to write to the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities Commission Delhi, to give Roman Script it’s rightful place in the Official Language Act, as per section 29(1) of the Constitution of India.
The resolution has mandated the panchayat to write to the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities Commission Delhi, and to the government of Goa, requesting them to investigate and stop the discrimination done to Roman script, and to grant official script status to Roman script, along with Devnagiri, by amending the Official Language Act.
