Mumbai auto and taxi drivers who have not yet acquired the required knowledge of Marathi may now face action as the Maharashtra government begins enforcing its language requirement. The government had previously offered the drivers time to learn Marathi and complete the prescribed training. Now that's over, the authorities are moving ahead with enforcement, though drivers won't lose their driving licences at the first time just because they can’t show Marathi proficiency.
Consequently, the policy provides a phased approach to drivers who have not yet met the requirement. As transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said, drivers who do not possess the required knowledge of Marathi will first be given a 30-day notice. That way they will be given time to comply with the rule instead of getting hit with immediate sanctions.
If a driver does not meet the language requirement even after the notice period, the authorities can suspend the driver's licence for three months. If the driver continues to be non-compliant, the consequences could be far worse. After the three-month suspension, failure to fulfil the requirement could eventually lead to permanent cancellation of the driving licence.
The government has therefore framed the measure as a gradual enforcement mechanism rather than a direct licence cancellation drive. And the announcement said drivers who have not met the requirement still have up to four months to comply with the rules.
1.25 Lakh Drivers Have Already Completed Marathi Course
There are already a lot of auto and taxi drivers who have completed the government's initiative. Around 1.25 lakh drivers who had completed the Marathi language course and received certificates will not face any action under this provision.
The certificates were issued after a 105-day Marathi language campaign for auto and taxi drivers. The initiative was organized under the name of 'Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Course Campaign' and aimed at helping drivers acquire basic Marathi language skills.
In Thane’s closing ceremony, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde termed Marathi as a “language of devotion and not compulsion” and said it should encourage people to learn and use Marathi with respect, not create an atmosphere of fear.
Shinde also encouraged Marathi speakers to support those learning the language. He said that instead of mocking non-Marathi speakers for making mistakes, people should talk to them in Marathi and encourage them to learn the language.
The campaign has been especially significant as Mumbai and surrounding urban centres have large numbers of people who have migrated to Maharashtra from different parts of the country. Auto-rickshaw and taxi service is also heavily dependent on workers from different linguistic backgrounds.
Transport Minister Takes Tougher Position
Shinde focused on encouragement and cultural respect, but transport minister Pratap Sarnaik took a tougher stance on enforcement. Sarnaik said that the attitude of refusing to speak Marathi would no longer be accepted under the government’s policy.
He also credited Shinde with providing the political impetus for the Marathi-learning campaign. Sarnaik said the initiative would not have been possible without Shinde's support and described him as his political mentor.
Sarnaik said some Hindi-speaking political leaders had tried to portray him and his department negatively over the issue. The remarks are part of a larger debate in Maharashtra regarding how Marathi should play a role in public life and language requirements for people who work in public-facing service.
The campaign also received financial support from the state government. According to Sarnaik, the Industries Department, headed by Uday Samant, contributed Rs 1 crore to the initiative.
What Drivers Need To Know
The Marathi requirement for those who have not yet completed the Marathi requirement is not automatically cancelled as the drivers are not told that they will lose their licence. But the rules do set a procedure of enforcement. A driver who fails to show the language knowledge should be given a notice of 30 days first if they fail to meet the Marathi requirements. If they do not, the licence could be suspended for three months. If the licence is still not met after suspension, then permanent cancellation is inevitable.
This is an opportunity for drivers to learn Marathi and complete the required formalities before the penalty becomes the most severe.
The government's stated objective is to promote Marathi communication among people working in Maharashtra rather than specifically target people from other states. Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune and many other urban areas have large non-Marathi-speaking populations, and many workers in the transport sector come from outside Maharashtra.
They will continue to be an important issue for the city's transport workforce given the Marathi requirement. For the drivers who have passed the government course and have received certificates, this is a relief. For those who have not, in the months to come it will be all about meeting the language requirement and not getting hurt and losing a living from driving.
