nA delegation of Goenkars living in Delhi met with the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday and thanked him for notifying the setting-up of the Konkani Academy by the Delhi Government.
Kejriwal said that the Konkani culture should be spread and propagated to everyone. “People should learn from other cultures, that is how integration takes place and that is the beauty of India,” he said.
The chief minister also said that he looks forward to seeing everyone participate actively in all the programs, including Konkani music, drama, dance.
"We have people coming from across the country from states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, East and North-East India etc. Likewise, we have people from Goa who have come and settled in Delhi. And I am so happy to learn that all the Goans who have settled in Delhi have formed their own associations of Goenkars,” he said.
Kejriwal further said that the Delhi government had set up Marathi academy last year, which has been running since then.
“It was the demand of the Konkani speaking people since then that a Konkani academy should also be set-up. Since the time we have announced the Konkani Academy, it has been received very well and I am glad that everybody is happy with the setting-up of the academy," he added.
In a Cabinet meeting held on January 8, the Delhi Government had approved the setting up of Konkani Academy to facilitate the growth and promotion of the Konkani language and culture in the national capital.
The academy will be set up under the Department of Art, Culture, and Languages of the Delhi Government, for the people of Delhi to have exposure to the rich Konkani culture, language, literature, and folk arts.
The newly set-up academy will soon be allocated an office space with the entire necessary infrastructure.