PERNEM
Hitting out at those criticising his government on the Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday stated that protests on the MoI were being organised to stir sentiments of the people.
Without directly referring to one group seeking to withdraw government funds to English medium primary schools or the rival group espousing the freedom of parents to opt for MoI, Parsekar disapproved of allegations made against him and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
“No chief minister can fulfil 100 per cent demands of the people. The government cannot take a decision all of a sudden. The government will always be prepared to protect the mother tongue,” said Parsekar.
He was speaking at a function after laying the foundation stone for a new building of the government primary school at Murmuse-Tuem in Pernem taluka.
The function was organised by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation and the foundation stone was laid in the presence of Panaji MLA and GSIDC vice-chairman Siddharth Kuncalienkar.
The Tuem school project is a single-storeyed building with four classrooms for Std 1 to 4 to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2.2 crore. There is also a provision for an anganwadi. The building also houses a large area for multiple uses, including mid-day meal, audio-visual presentations, etc.
The project also has an open stage for overall development of the children studying there, with an amphitheatre seating for the outdoor stage, apart from CCTV surveillance system for the entire building.
Parsekar said the government has given more thrust for strengthening adequate infrastructure for schools in the State and about 260 from all over the State has been renovated.
“The government has started 87 schools in Marathi and Konkani during the last four years apart from taking care to provide quality education to uphold the cause of local languages,” he said, and added that owing to the leadership of then chief minister Manohar Parrikar, the primary schools were protected.
Parsekar further said government intends to establish electronic city in Tuem with the sole intention of creating employment avenues for local youth, adding that the master plan of the project will be prepared soon.
“Government does not belong to only one religion, we should stand united to carry out State's affairs,” he pointed out.
Directorate of Education Director G P Bhat, GSIDC Manager Sandip Prabhu Chodnekar, Tuem sarpanch Prajakta Kannaik, Korgao sarpanch Pandhari Arolkar, Ward member Swati Harmalkar, ex-ZP member Dipak Kalangutkar, PTA chairperson Amita Gawade, Sunita Paralkar and others were present on the occasion.
Deputy Sarpanch Vilasini Naik welcomed the guests, Dilip Mhamal compered the function, while Manjusha Parab proposed the vote of thanks.
