MARGAO: Claiming discrimination, the Village Panchayat of Navelim passed a resolution during its gram sabha on Sunday, demanding equal recognition for Konkani in the Roman script alongside Devanagari.
The resolution called for an amendment to the official language act to grant equal status to both scripts, citing issues of linguistic equality and representation.
A proposal put forth by Carmo Carneiro, representing the 'Global Konknni Forum,' was unanimously passed during the gram sabha of Navelim Village Panchayat. According to the proposal, the panchayat body will formally communicate this matter to the government.
The above resolution also included a request to the Commissioner of the Linguistic Minorities Commission of India to cease discrimination against the Roman script in Goa.
CarmoCarneiro stated that for 36 years, the Roman script has endured significant injustice and discrimination under successive governments in power. He expressed frustration over repeated promises and assurances made over time, which have consistently gone unfulfilled.
Further stated that the politicians are responsible for this injustice to Roman script, and they will never amend the official language act, to make roman script as official script of Konkani along with Devanagari.
“Under the Linguistic Minorities Commission of India, Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution provides safeguards to linguistic protection of the minorities, as their fundamental right. Under article 29(1) of the Constitution, where are alleging script based discrimination of the Konkani language, as the official language act of Goa recognises only Devanagari as the official script of Konkani,” further stated.
As mentioned in the resolution, the article 29(1) states that any section of citizens residing in India, or any part therefore, and having a distinct language has the right to protect and conserve the same. Under this clause, it is our fundamental right to protect the Roman Script from discrimination.
“Therefore, as minorities we need to bring this to the attention of the commissioner of linguistic minorities Commission India in Delhi, that Roman script has been trampled upon for the last 36 years by the political leaders for their selfish reasons, and political gains,” stated further.
As informed by the village panchayat Navelim, they will forward this resolution to the government to initiate further steps towards granting equal status to the Konkani in roman script along with Devanagari.
Global Konknni Forum echoes similar sentiments
Mapusa: The Global Konknni Forum which met at Aldona Church parish hall on Sunday, demanded equal recognition to Konkani in Romi script in the official Language Act.
The Forum vowed to take the fight to the finish, by making Romi script as official script of Konkani, along with Devnagri script.
GKF secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes said that the Forum will be expanded and will reach to every Goan across the State and those working abroad. He said that besides demand to give Official language status to Romi script, the Forum will be start membership drive and form cultural and literary movement.
GKF president Kennedy Afonso said that they will take their battle in three ways. The Forum will hold negotiation with the government to get due recognition to Romi script Konkani. He claimed that under Section 29 (1) of Constitution, it is fundamental right to to protect language and script. Lastly, the Forum will approach the courts to seek the justice, he said.
Afonso said that coordinators have been appointed in seven villagers so far and they will constitute committees in their respective villages.
Aplon Rebello, Xavier Mascarenhas, Seby D’Souza and Rui Da Gama also spoke.
The speaker stated that when the Official Language Act was drafted, the Goans who actually fought for Konkani, were betrayed, by the politicians. It's been 36 long years of injustice, and the Global Konknni Forum will fight to give due recognition to Konkani in Romi script.