Threaten agitation if clause mandating written knowledge of Konkani for govt jobs is diluted
Konkani Bhasha Mandal president Ratnamala Deukar briefs the media.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Konkani Bhasha Mandal and Akhil Bhartiya Konkani Parishad have warned of an agitation if any attempt is made to dilute or relax the clause mandating compulsory written knowledge of Konkani to secure government jobs.
In fact, leaders of KBM and ABKP have unequivocally supported the government’s stance of requiring knowledge of written Konkani as compulsory for securing government jobs. The decision of the government becomes more apt in light of the latest Supreme Court judgment, wherein the domicile clause has been made redundant, stated KBM president Ratnamala Deukar and ABKP Chief Chetan Acharya.
The duo in clear terms asserted that in no case should the government relax the clause of compulsory written knowledge of Konkani to secure government jobs, failing which the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and the Akhil Bhartiya Konkani Parishad “will not hesitate to lead the people of Goa to secure the rightful demand of government jobs for locals only,” the duo said at a media briefing.
“We unequivocally support the government’s stance of 'knowledge of written Konkani compulsory for securing government jobs.' The decision of the government becomes more apt in light of the latest Supreme Court judgment, wherein the domicile clause has been made redundant,” she said.
She feared that if the government relaxes this clause of compulsory knowledge of Konkani in recruitment for government jobs, the doors will be opened to the nearly 10 crore Marathi-speaking population from the state of Maharashtra and other areas like Belgavi, etc., where Marathi is still a spoken and written language.
“We further call upon the government to strengthen this clause so as to prevent the influx of outsiders from securing government jobs. In no case should the government relax the above clause of compulsory written knowledge of Konkani to secure government jobs, failing which the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and the Akhil Bhartiya Konkani Parishad will lead the people of Goa to secure the rightful demand of government jobs for locals only,” Chetan Acharya warned.
He said Konkaniwaddis had never objected to the setting up of the Marathi Academy or the liberal grants bestowed on the promotion of the Marathi language. “But under no circumstances will we allow any dilution of the clause mandating knowledge of written Konkani as compulsory for securing government jobs,” Acharya further warned.
