Bangalore, 28 Aug 2014: A delegation of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino, state health minister U T Khader and MLC Ivan D’Souza met CM Siddaramaiah here on Tuesday August 26, presented a memorandum in order to grant funds for the proposed Konkani chair in Mangalore University.
The co-operation of state higher education minister R V Deshpande, store forests and ecology minister Ramanath Rai, health minister U T Khader, urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, youth and sports minister Abayachandra Jain, Kannada and culture minister Umashree, MLAs J R Lobo, Moideen Bawa and Pramod Madwaraj was also sought in this regard.
CM Siddaramaiah assured the delegation to take necessary action related to this issue.
The Academy members Lawrence D’Souza and Lulus Coutinho were also present.
The delegation has earlier met union HRD minister Smruti Irani, culture minister Sripad Nayak, railway minister D V Sadanadn Gowda, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, former union ministers Veerappa Moily and Oscar Fernandes who also assured favorably in this regard.
Mangalore University had appointed head of department of Kannada Professor Shivaram Shetty related to Konkani chair.
If chair of Konkani in Mangalore University is set up, it will help to undertake research on folklore, record different forms, organize seminar and literary workshop, to begin doctoral, post doctoral and fellowship, Konkani online degree and correspondence studies. The information and study materials can be prepared for Konkani studies can be imparted from KG to PG in a systematic manner.