MARGAO
The Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan marked 39 years since Konkani was recognised as the only official language of Goa. GRLA convenor Kennedy Afonso said that while the day is important, many Goans, especially from the Catholic minority community, feel left out because Roman script Konkani is still not included in the Official Language Act or in the school curriculum.
He said Roman script Konkani is a key part of Goa’s cultural heritage but has not been given proper recognition. Afonso said minority communities have the constitutional right to protect and promote their language and script, and it is the duty of the government to ensure this right is respected.
Afonso further said that even after nearly four decades and heavy spending to promote the Devanagari script, it has not gained full acceptance among people. He claimed that Romi Konkani continues to grow even without being taught in schools. According to him, the language will grow stronger only if both Nagri and Romi scripts are treated equally in education.
He urged the government to take clear steps to introduce Romi Konkani in schools so that future generations can stay connected with their roots and identity. He said the time has come to correct the oversight and give Roman script Konkani the place it deserves.
Afonso added that the Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan stands with the Catholic minority community and supporters of Romi Konkani, and wants the government to act quickly to promote linguistic diversity in Goa.
