Written by Intern Queeny George M.H, Team Allycaral
The 8th batch of Official Language training, organized by the Directorate of Official Languages, Government of Goa, began on 22nd September at the Language Research Centre in Panaji. The event marked yet another step towards the promotion and practical integration of Konkani in administrative functions. North Goa Additional Collector Gurudas Desai attended the inauguration as the chief guest.
In his speech, Mr. Desai emphasized the significance of preserving the mother tongue, stating, “Konkani is our mother tongue. We all should make maximum use of it, and we should take care of our mother tongue. The knowledge gained from this training must be implemented in administration.” His remarks underlined the cultural and administrative importance of Konkani, especially within the context of government operations.
The inaugural event was also graced by Director of Official Language Meghnath Parab and Deputy Director Anil Sawant. Director Parab reiterated that knowledge of Konkani is a mandatory requirement for securing a government job in Goa and highlighted the responsibility of civil servants to work in Rajbhasha once employed. Deputy Director Anil Sawant added that the language training should not end with the program, but continue to be applied consistently in government work.
This four-day training program includes various modules such as Konkani Grammar, Konkani Correspondence, Notes, Administrative Vocabulary, and Communication. A total of 25 government employees are participating in this intensive language workshop.
Guidance throughout the program is provided by language experts including Anil Sawant, Sebi Fernandes, Chetan Acharya, and Sneha Sabnis. The sessions are being conducted by a dedicated team comprising Franita Ribeiro, Sujit Naik, Mansi Gadgil, Mahananda Mhardolkar, Anusaya Gaonkar, Patrick D’Souza, Shobha Phadte, Nikita Kuttikar, Ashish Ghadi, Ashweta Parab, Nirmala Surlikar, and Naresh Pagi. Anil Sawant is the main coordinator of the training, with Sneha Sabnis serving as the assistant coordinator.
The initiative reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to not just preserving the Konkani language but actively integrating it into the administrative framework, ensuring that it remains a living, working language for generations to come.
