from Charles Gomes, Bangalore

Bangalore, Apr 29: A delegation from the Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations of Karnataka (FKCAK) met chief minister  H D Kumaraswamy at his home office "Krishna" on the April 27 evening. Chairman Valerian Fernandes led the delegation and submitted the memorandum highlighting the grievances of the community.

The following demands were submitted as part of the memorandum:

1) Chairmanship for Christians in the Karnataka State Minority Commission and Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation. - The Karnataka state Minority commission and Minorities Development Corporation were established in the year 1983 and 1986 respectively but since its inception, the chairmenship has invariably gone to only one community among the minorities. Fernandes demanded that the chairmenship should be given to other minority communities like Christians, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis on a rotation basis. Christians, being the second largest community among minorities after Muslims, certainly deserve chairmanship in the Board and the Commission during the next term.

2) Nomination of a Konkani Catholic / Christian for a Rajya Sabha or Karnataka Legislative Council Seat : Fernandes showed his concern  that there is no representation in the state cabinet from the community. He demanded that a Konkani Christian should be nominated as MLC to represent the community.
                          
3) Inclusion of Konkani in the Horanadu and Gadinadu Kannadigas' quota for reservation in the CET (common Entrance test ) for the Engineering, Medical, Dental and other professional courses. This facility is extended to Kannadigas whose mother-tongue is Tulu and Kodava apart from Kannada. Konkani-speaking Kannadigas are deprived of this. Fernandes demanded that Konkani-speaking people of Karnataka origin should also be treated equally.

This facility will help the children of many Konkani-speaking Kannadigas currently residing outside Karnataka. This will also help non-Christians like Kharvis, Navayats, Kudumbis etc whose mother-tongue is also Konkani
              
4) Representation to Christians in various State-level undertakings, Boards and Corporations : Fernandes requested the chief minister to consider the eminent, deserving Christians for the Chairmanship and members for the state level undertakings, Boards and Corporations as a token of appreciation of their service and contribution to the society in different walks of life.

The chief minister told the delegation that he did not believe in just giving assurances, instead, he informed that he would do whatever best possible on his part.

General secretaryCharles Gomes, former chairman of the Federation Brigadier Gerald Gonsalves, former director general of police F T R Colaco and  the presidents of all the member associations were also present as part of the delegation.  

The Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations of Karnataka, established in 1998, is now in its 8th year of operation and comprises 12 Associations of Konkani Catholics in the different localities of Bangalore, plus another Association in Mysore.

Many more Associations in other parts of Bangalore and different districts of Karnataka are in the process of getting affiliated to the Federation.