MARGAO
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has said that the publication of the Official Gazette in Konkani and the effective implementation of the Official Language Act remains a distant dream.
“Experimenting continues with Cabinet Approval for the Department of Official Language to replace translators with researchers in Konkani,” Yuri said while referring to the Cabinet Approval to set up a Konkani Research Centre in the Department of Official Language.
The Opposition Leader slammed the government for its failure to implement the official language. “This Government is obsessed over making new announcements and gain publicity but in reality, nothing productive is happening,” said Yuri.
He added: "The Official Language Department has miserably failed to promote Konkani in administration. With the latest decision of the government, the post of translators stands scrapped. I completely support the views of acclaimed Konkani writer Adv Uday Bhembre, who has said that research work should come under the domain of the Education Department and Goa University, which is the appropriate forum to conduct research in Konkani.”
Saying the government had given a reply in the last Assembly session that three translators are assigned by the Official Language Department to Department of Printing & Stationary for translation of Official Gazette, Yuri said, “Unfortunately, till date the Gazette is published in English. Why the government needs Konkani translators? Actually the Gazette should be in Konkani and translated to other languages.”
He demanded that the government immediately come out with an action plan to train the government officials to communicate in Konkani. Extensive workshops should be organised inviting experts in Konkani to make government employees well-versed with the Konkani language, he said.
The Opposition leader has further demanded that the government ensure that only Goans get government jobs.
“I have already written a letter to the Chief Minister to bring amendments to the Official Language Act and Recruitment Rules to make academic knowledge of Konkani compulsory for all government recruitments," he added.
