SGF, UGDP seek official status for Konkani in Roman script

Panaji, July 19 (UNI) The Save Goa Front (SGF) and the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) today urged the government to accord official language status to Konkani in Roman script by amending the Official Language Act suitably.

Participating in the debate on 18 demands for the year 2007-08 in the State Legislative Assembly today, respective leaders urged the government to respect the sentiments of the majority of Goans who write Konkani in Roman script.

The lone UGDP member Atanasio Monserrate also moved a cut motion, demanding official status to the Konkani language for Roman Script.

He further pleaded for funds to Konkani academies on par with Marathi academies.

''The callous attitude of the government against the Roman script has affected the feelings of the champions of Roman script,'' he said.

Mr Monserrate also called for strengthening the urban development ministry with adequate staff as Goa was witnessing rapid urbanisation. He said a cell should be set up to check unauthorised constructions. This calls for uniform bylaws for both urban and local bodies, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Monserrate took exception to ''police engaging in settling civil land disputes instead of maintaining law and order and checking crime''.

Reiterating that his party will continue to extend ''issue based support'' to the Congress-led coalition government in the state, Save Goa Front leader Churchil Alemao was, however, critical of the ''lapses in the general administration department''.

He also urged the need for according official language status to Konkani in Roman script on par with the Devanagari script in deference to the wishes of the majority of Goans.

Initiating the debate on demands including general administration, police and vigilance earlier, Mr Vijaypai Kaut (BJP) castigated the government for not taking any concrete step to check ''drug menace'' in the state.

At one point of time, there was a heated argument between him and the Home Minister Ravi S Naik on the issue which however, subsided with the intervention of Speaker Pratapsinh Rane.

Mr Dayanand Mandrekar (BJP) regretted Goa's dismal state of agriculture and animal husbandry, considered the backbone of the nation. He was critical about the lack of medicines at veterinary clinics for treating various animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr Churchil was also in favour of amending rules and regulations so that the village youth were provided with playgrounds for encouraging sports.

Mr Chandrakant Kaulekar (Congress), supporting the motions, sought for modernisation of police stations besides strengthening the fire brigades in the state.

UNI