MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant firmly reiterated on Wednesday that his government has no intention of amending the Official Language Act of 1987, quelling ongoing speculations and demands from certain sections of the Goan population.
Speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone for the Assonora four-lane bypass project, Sawant made it unequivocally clear that the existing language policy will remain unchanged.
"There will be no changes in the Official Language Act; the government has no intention of amending the Act," Sawant asserted.
His statement comes in response to renewed calls from some Goans who have been advocating for the inclusion of Konkani written in the Roman script as an official language alongside the current Devanagari script.
Sawant emphasised that his government’s position on this matter had already been made clear during the recently concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
"I have already clarified the government’s view in the Assembly," he added, stressing that there is no proposal under consideration to amend the Official Language Act, 1987.
Responding to another question, Sawant said considering the importance of literature in Romi (Roman) script, the State government is releasing recurring grants to the private institution, Dalgado Konknni Akademi, for the development of Romi script in Konkani language.
In recent months, the debate over the language policy has resurfaced, with various cultural and social organisations renewing their demands for official recognition of Konkani in the Roman script.
Proponents of this change argue that the Roman script is equally integral to the cultural fabric of Goa and deserves formal recognition to ensure inclusivity and linguistic equity.
Despite these calls, Chief Minister Sawant’s latest remarks reaffirm the government’s commitment to the existing policy.
Sawant’s categorical stance is likely to have significant implications for Goa's linguistic landscape, where the dual use of Devanagari and Roman scripts reflects the state’s diverse cultural heritage.
While the decision to maintain the status quo may disappoint some, it is also likely to be seen as a move to preserve the historical and cultural significance of Konkani in its traditional script.
