CORTALIM
The gram sabha members were vocal in their opposition and ridiculed the attempts of those having vested interests to bring the evil in their neighbourhood. An unanimous resolution was adopted by the gram sabha to this effect. The gram sabha which was attended by RDA Minister and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha also deliberated on the medium of instruction (MoI), where it was decided that parents should have the freedom of choice to decide the mother tongue of their children and not the government. The gram sabha was however of the view that to safeguard their mother tongue Konkani, which is the official language of Goa, it should be made compulsory till the SSC and if possible even till HSSC. Another issue which was deliberated upon was the long-pending demand for the bifurcation of Cortalim-Quelossim Panchayat. At this stage, Saldanha informed that Panchayat Minister Rajendra Arlekar had informed her that he had acquainted himself with the issue and in the next two to three weeks he would take up the issue with the chief minister wherein the local MLA would also be invited. “Thereafter another meeting would be called where the committee dealing with the bifurcation issue will also be called,” Saldanha informed the gram sabha. The gram sabha also dwelt upon the issue of cruise boats which was misinterpreted by some locals as casino boats. Thereafter, it was resolved to take up the issue with the Captain of Ports and local fishermen for an amicable settlement. Later speaking to The Goan, Saldanha informed that she agreed with the villagers on medium of instruction which should be left to the parents to decide and also agreed that Konkani should be made the compulsory subject to safeguard the mother tongue.
