Margao (Goa) Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today assured to include history of Opinion Poll as a part of school curriculum from the academic year 2019-20.

The day is observed to celebrate the referendum which had decided to keep Goa as an independent entity, opposing the move to merge this territory in Maharashtra in the year 1967.

“Goa’s history does not end with the liberation of the state from Portuguese rule, but it continues till the Opinion Poll and even till 1987 when statehood was attained,” said Parrikar.

“The efforts should be made to teach this part of history to the students. I assure that Opinion Poll would be a part of school curriculum during the academic year 2019,” he said.

He stated that a committee of experts would be formed which will be finalizing the curriculum to include Opinion Poll.

During his ten minute speech in state level function organised by Directorate of Official Language and Ravindra Bhavan in Margao, Parrikar recited poem by veteran poet late B B Borkar.

The chief minister said the victory during opinion poll as “unified and combined” efforts of the Goans cutting across the lines of religion, caste, creed and region.

He said that the efforts of the people who contributed to keep Goa as a separate entity should be recognized in different forms.

Parrikar during the event inaugurated a lane dedicated to the stalwarts who participated in the Opinion Poll movement.