Treat Romi and Devanagri script like twin siblings
The Global Konkani Forum (GKF) reportedly urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to introduce a Bill to amend the Official Language Act to give Romi Konkani equal status as that of Devanagri script.
This according to the forum will end the injustice that has continued for 36 years to Romi Konkani. There is also a demand to ensure equal financial support for the Roman script and that Konkani in Roman script be taught in schools from class I to XII.
Be that as it may, it is pertinent to note that Konkani in the Roman script is also used in tiatr. It is alleged that as a result of the recognition of only the Devanagari script, the rich body of Konkani literature written in the Roman script went unrecognized, unrewarded and not promoted.
Incidentally Konkani is today written in Devanagari, Roman, Kannada and Malayalam scripts. Even though Romi Konkani is widely used by tens of thousands of Goans, it is not recognized by law.
Konkani was being used as a vehicle for the dissemination of the teachings of Christianity on a large scale. The usage of Romi Konkani was seen as representative of the Goan Catholic identity. For Goa’s Catholics, who were educated in Portuguese and in English, it was only natural that they would choose to write their own language in the very same script they had already read and written. It is high time both Romi and Devanagri scripts are given equal status as they are like twin siblings of Mai Bhas Konkani.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Decision on ‘Asmitai Dis’ is commendable
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should be congratulated for finally assuring the Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao, of celebrating the Opinion Poll Day i.e. 16th January as ‘Asmitai Dis’ with a State function starting from 2025 itself.
It should be noted that Alemao had earlier moved a private member resolution in the Goa Assembly asking the government to henceforth start celebrating the Opinion Poll Day – January 16 – as ‘Asmitai Dis’ with a State function by giving his own valid reasons.
It's a known fact that though the historic opinion poll was held and won on 1st January 1967 by Goans, our respective governments were not seen giving any importance for the day since the last so many years but were seen wasting huge sums of money in organising a number of official functions and celebrating the birth & death anniversaries of even some neighbouring historical medieval kings/rulers in many parts of the state all these years.
Thank God, our current leaders from both the sides have finally realised that if Goans had not voted against the merger with Maharashtra on 16th January 1967, then Goa would have become like another District of Maharashtra.
Anyway, a big salute to our CM for wholeheartedly supporting this proposal and finally assuring everyone of officially celebrating the opinion poll day i.e. 16th January as 'Asmitai Diwas' on a very large scale throughout the State starting from 2025 to show gratitude towards the day & to show Goa's unique identity/Goenkarponn.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Urgent need for national anti-superstition law
The recent stampede at a religious congregation in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh that killed more than 120 people, yet again reiterates the urgent need for the central government to pass a national anti-superstition law. Superstition, witchcraft and black magic are irrational and evil beliefs that cause physical and mental harm to the society. Superstition, in particular, is a belief rooted in misinformation or fear and is distinguished by an obsession with reverence for the paranormal. It is the duty of any government to increase public awareness against these kinds of maleficent issues through educational initiatives to dispel common misconceptions about the same. The depraved lot of India’s contemporary civilization is exposed by murders perpetrated in the name of superstition. Even though education is crucial for putting an end to these kinds of practices, there is a legal obligation to confront the widespread use of such immoral acts. A fine line separates ‘faith’ and ‘superstition’ that needs to be clearly defined in law, as the gullible lot in the country strongly believe that these traditions and rituals performed in the name of god may be regarded as a manifestation of religion.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Criminal waste of taxpayers’ money
Almost daily, there are reports in the papers of roads sinking and pavements buckling in Goa. Everyone knows that commission-raj and corruption in government circles is one of the major reasons for this.
There is also another reason. Work is being carried out during the rains by contractors presumably to meet impossible deadlines by the sarkar.
On a visit to Margao, I witnessed that there is no surface preparation and proper compaction of the sub layer before fixing pavers. Paver blocks are being laid over a base of fine aggregate without any mix of coarse sand, and all this when the monsoon is at it's peak. Material is being stored in the open without any cover which itself compromises the mix , how can one even expect quality work looking at these questionable practices ? With the next spell of rain, these pavers buckle and then more taxpayer's money is wasted to rectify it. Why can't the laying of pavers or tarring of roads be done before the monsoons?? This criminal waste of funds should be staunched!!
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim