Since the Maharashtra government started enforcing the language requirement on Tuesday, Mumbai taxi and car drivers who do not speak Marathi may now face consequences.
Earlier, the government allowed drivers to finish the necessary training and learn Marathi. The deadline has now passed. Drivers’ licenses won’t be automatically revoked if they don’t speak Marathi.
Up to four months remain for drivers to comply. According to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, drivers would first receive a 30-day notice if they are unable to demonstrate the necessary proficiency in Marathi.
Their driver’s license may be suspended for three months if they do not meet the Marathi language requirement, even after the notice period. The license may be permanently revoked if they continue to violate the suspension.
This clause will not apply to almost 1.25 lakh auto and taxi drivers who have finished the government-run Marathi language training and obtained certificates.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that Marathi is a “language of devotion, not compulsion” during the “Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Course Campaign” closing event in Thane.
He claims that during the 105-day campaign, almost 1.25 lakh auto and taxi drivers learned Marathi, passed the test, and were awarded certificates.
Instead of mocking individuals who are learning the language, Shinde remarked, people should converse with non-Marathi speakers in Marathi. He added that rather than being taught out of fear of the law, Marathi should be learned out of love and respect.
The attitude of “I will not speak Marathi” will no longer be tolerated, according to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who took a firm stance on the regulations.
Sarnaik attributed the political initiative for the Marathi-learning drive to Eknath Shinde. He claimed that without Shinde as his political mentor, the campaign would not have been feasible. Additionally, he claimed that some leaders who spoke Hindi had attempted to discredit him and his department.
According to Sarnaik, the campaign received Rs 1 crore from the Industries Department, which is led by Uday Samant.
There are sizable non-Marathi populations in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and other Maharashtra cities. Additionally, a sizable portion of the car, taxi, and transportation workforce is made up of people from other states.
The government claims that the goal is to encourage everyone in Maharashtra to learn Marathi rather than to target non-Marathi individuals.
Also Read – Maharashtra SIR: Over 2 Crore Voter Enumeration Forms Remain Uncollected Ahead of Draft Roll