27 August,2026 11:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minsiter Eknath Shinde (File pic)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday distributed certificates to autorickshaw and taxi drivers who have completed their Marathi language proficiency course.
Shinde, while addressing a gathering of autorickshaw drivers in Borivali in North Mumbai, said that the autorickshaw operators cooperated and learnt Marathi out of their love for the state's primary language, as per PTI.
The Deputy Chief Minister also insisted that Marathi is a language that binds everyone and added that the 'janmanbhoomi' (birthplace) of migrant autorickshaw drivers may not be Maharashtra, but the state is their 'karmabhoomi' (place of work).
The Shiv Sena chief also said, "Autorickshaw and taxi drivers just need the working knowledge of Marathi to carry out day-to-day conversations."
The spoken Marathi is easier than the written one. Business will flourish if autorickshaw and taxi drivers speak in Marathi, Shinde said.
While addressing the people in North Mumbai, Deputy CM also recalled his days as an autorickshaw driver.
He said when he was the Maharashtra CM (June 2022-December 2024), the Centre accorded classical language status to Marathi.
On a few autorickshaw drivers refusing to learn Marathi, Shinde said there are fringe elements in every community.
Earlier on Tuesday, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announcedthat drivers yet to undergo training will get additional time to learn the language.
Sarnaik said around 1.65 lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra have already undergone Marathi language training as part of a special 105-day initiative launched by the Transport Department.
Sarnaik said drivers would initially be given one month to learn Marathi, with an additional three months to be granted if required.
During this period, drivers will have an opportunity to acquire basic, practical Marathi skills needed to communicate with passengers.
He said badge suspension could be initiated under the applicable law, but badges would not be cancelled during the three-month additional period. Drivers who deliberately continue to refuse to learn Marathi after the extended period could face action to cancel their badges, as per the law.
The minister said training workshops would continue for drivers who have not yet learnt Marathi through the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh.
Training centres have been identified in Mumbai, Thane, Bhiwandi, Nalasopara, Vasai-Virar and Navi Mumbai, with their details shared with the respective RTO officials.
A dedicated contact number for information about the training centres will also be announced through the RTOs, Sarnaik said.
(With inputs from PTI)
