Mangaluru: Data on languages and mother tongues of India pertaining to Census 2011 released by Census of India, has disappointed Konkani speakers. Against an enumerated Konkani-speaking population of 24,89,015 in the 2001 Census, the number has come down by 2,32,513 in 2011, and is pegged at 22,56,502. It was 17,60,607 as per the 1991 Census, 15,70,108 in the 1981 Census and 15,08,432, when the population was enumerated in 1971

A quick look at the numbers (see box) indicates that they have fallen drastically in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, and union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in Census 2011 vis-à-vis Census 2001. Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, the other major states that house Konkani speaking populations, has seen a healthy growth, with Goa registering the highest growth. There is also an appreciable growth in the other states where the Konkani speaking population is spread.

“While Konkani speakers in Maharashtra choose to indicate Marathi as their language there, in Kerala they will go with Malayalam, in that if gives them an edge with employment opportunities,” he said. “Lack of attachment for the language, and tendency to fence sit in this regard, especially in the border areas, only adds to the numbers looking dismal,” Eric said, adding that for long, he has been advocating that the numbers presented in the 2001 Census itself was underreported.

To seek answers to the census figures projected, an emergency meeting has been called on July 8, 2018 Sunday, at Kalangaan and all Konkani speakers are cordially invited.