Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has moved to alleviate concerns among autorickshaw and taxi drivers protesting the state's new Marathi proficiency requirement. Fadnavis stated that drivers do not need to be 'experts' in the language, but rather possess a basic, working knowledge relevant to their jobs.
Protests Erupt Over Language Diktat
The Chief Minister's comments come amidst widespread protests in Mumbai, where fears over steep fines and license cancellations have led to disruptions. Commuters faced significant difficulty finding taxis and autorickshaws, with some reporting wait times of 40-50 minutes. Demonstrations were reported across several areas, including Laljipada in Kandivali West, Malad, Santacruz, Dahisar, and Andheri, with some protesters allegedly preventing other drivers from operating.
A section of autorickshaw drivers also initiated a three-day strike on Monday evening, escalating the disruption.
Understanding the Marathi Language Rule
The Maharashtra government amended the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making a working knowledge of Marathi mandatory for commercial passenger vehicle drivers, including those using app-based services like Ola and Uber. The enforcement drive commenced on August 20, following a three-month grace period that ended on August 15.
Under a government resolution from August 12, drivers found without adequate Marathi knowledge are issued a one-month notice to learn the language. Failure to meet the requirement after this period can lead to the suspension of their license and badge, with an additional three months provided for compliance. Continued non-compliance could ultimately result in license cancellation.
Clarifications and Driver Concerns
CM Fadnavis emphasized, “There is no reason to make them experts in Marathi. They should know work-related, basic Marathi.” He also confirmed that drivers had been granted extra time to learn and no licenses had been cancelled thus far. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik warned against regional transport officials levying fines before the one-month notice period expired, addressing misinformation about alleged fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000.
Despite the clarifications, drivers voiced their willingness to learn Marathi but complained that questions during RTO checks often exceeded the scope of government-backed training programs. Many, especially older drivers with limited education, highlighted the difficulty of learning a new language while striving to meet daily income targets, particularly for those working under contractors and frequently shifting between jobs.
As of August 20, notices were issued to 1,268 commercial passenger vehicle drivers, followed by another 1,499 non-Marathi-speaking drivers across Maharashtra on August 21. Sarnaik noted that 1,65,600 non-Marathi autorickshaw and taxi drivers had attended Marathi language classes. The checking drive is scheduled to continue until September 30.