Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 17: MLC Ivan D'Souza tried to raise topics relating to Konkani language at the Legislative Council session on Tuesday December 16 in Konkani but had to relent as the council chairman discouraged him from doing so.

The council chairman, in reply to Ivan's insistence on speaking in Konkani, noted that others will not be able to understand what he was saying, if he spoke in Konkani. In addition, he also pointed out that the facility of translation was not available.

On Ivan's determined efforts to speak in Konkani, the chairman said there was no one to translate what he said. He instead suggested Ivan to provide copy of what he wanted to say in Konkani so that it can be distributed to everyone. He therefore asked Ivan to raise the topics in Kannada.

Ivan, who thereafter spoke in Kannada, raised the topic relating to the fact that there is no provision to learn Konkani at PU level in the state. He said that draft syllabus had been handed over to the department of pre-university education, asking them to approve the same, in the year 2012. He said even after lapse of over two years, there has been progress in this matter.

Ivan sought facility for everyone to learn Konkani as third language in all primary and high schools in the state, and also make a provision to teach Konkani in PU level. 'All universities in the state should facilitate Konkani study chairs,' he urged.

Floor leader of the government, S R Patil, said that he will get information from the department concerned and furnish replies to the government within 30 days.