Goa, July 23 -- In a move aimed at safeguarding local interests, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that knowledge of reading and writing in Konkani will be made compulsory for recruitment to posts in the Postal Department in the State.

Sawant was responding to a Zero Hour mention by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who raised concerns over the appointment of new postmen from Maharashtra. The Chief Minister stated that recruitment rules are being revised and that a certificate from the Goa Konkani Akademi would soon be a mandatory requirement for such appointments.

Sardesai, while welcoming the Konkani language requirement, strongly demanded justice for around 40 Goan postmen who were retrenched despite...