Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 24: Jagotik Konkani Songhotton (JKS) organized its second Global Conclave on Sunday, August 23 at Kalaangann to discuss and pass the Konkani Language Plan for adoption and to ensure a secure future for Konkani language and culture.

Delegates from Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE participated in the conclave.

Deputy CM of Goa, Francis D’Souza inaugurated the conclave by hoisting the Konkani flag atop the globe. "It is the duty of every Konkani-speaking person to ensure that Konkani lives eternally," he said.

Dr Anil Pinto, registrar, Christ University, in his key note address, gave a brief overview regarding what Language Planning was all about. Eric Ozario, secretary general, JKS, explained the purpose of organizing the conclave. Tomazinho Cardozo, ex-speaker of Goan assembly and former president of JKS welcomed the gathering, while the newly elected president of JKS, Sidhanath Buyao, Goa, proposed the vote of thanks. Irine Rebello compered the inaugural session.

In the business session, Vasant Shetty, columnist and Kannada language activist and Dr Ravishankar Rao, Mangalore University gave their opinion regarding the Konkani Language Plan - its positive factors and loopholes. They appreciated the efforts of JKS, which is not a government body, in planning for the future of its language. They also appreciated that the process involved in the preparation of the Language Plan which was entirely democratic and all-inclusive.

Eric Ozario, secretary general of JKS, presented the Language Plan on behalf of the steering committee. It was discussed and necessary alterations were made and the gathering unanimously passed the Konkani Language Plan.

During the Global Conclave, it was resolved that:

1. The Konkani Language Plan would be brought out as a book, including in English and Konkani versions, in the three major scripts – Kannada, Roman and Nagari.
2. Meetings would be organized in various regions to make people aware of the Konkani Language Plan and to ensure that it is implemented to the extent possible.
3. The steering committee would work on preparing the Konkani Language Policy Document.
4. The 3rd Global Conclave would be held on August 28, 2016, to assess the implementation of the Konkani Language Plan and to discuss and pass the Konkani Language Policy Document.

Dr Anil Pinto moderated the entire proceedings of the Conclave.