Konkani textbook released in M'lore

The Konkani textbook in Devanagari (as well as Kannada) script is the result of the State government's approval to teach Konkani as a third optional language either in Kannada or Devanagari script in the 6th standard.

The Konkani textbook in Devanagari script prepared by the DSERT with the help of Karnataka State Konkani Linguistic Minority Educational Institutions’ Association, was released by MLA N Yogish Bhat at Nalanda English Medium School here on Saturday. The Konkani textbook in Devanagari (as well as Kannada) script is the result of the State government’s approval to teach Konkani as a third optional language either in Kannada or Devanagari script in the 6th standard. The programme will be implemented in 36 schools with over 2,200 students. Mr Bhat also hoped that the government will also give its nod to introduce Tulu in schools. On the occasion, Karnataka State Konkani Linguistic Minority Educational Institutions’ Association Treasurer Indira Jodumutt and Textbook Review Committee Member Suchithra Shenoy were felicitated for their role in bringing out the textbook. Konkani Basha Mandal President Rev Fr Eric Crasta said that there is a need to continue the efforts of those who had worked to introduce Konkani in schools. Konkani Samskrithika Sangha President Raghava R Kamath, Canara Institutions Honourary Secretary M Annappa Pai and Association President Dr U S Mohandas Nayak among others were present. Memorandum Later, Association Honourary Secretary Dr K Mohan Pai presented a memorandum to State government through MLA N Yogish Bhat which stressed the need to grant ‘Linguistic Minorities’ status to all member institutions; make budgetary allocation for designing and printing Konkani text books; to cover all the institutions run by the members of minimum 20 years standing, under the grant-in-aid scheme; and to avoid any administrative decisions which would hamper the constitutional rights of the Linguistic Minorities under Section 29 and 30 of the Constitution. Speaking after releasing the book, Mr Bhat said that the government nod and the release of the textbook was a long pending dream of the Konkani speaking people. However, the Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy had already taken initiative to teach Konkani in schools for the past many months.