Marathi mandate triggers statewide stir among drivers in Maharashtra

Manoj Singh, Vasai resident and taxi driver

On the heels of the Maharashtra government issuing a directive making the Marathi language mandatory for rickshaw and taxi drivers operating in the state, the Autorickshaw Driver-Owner Joint Action Committee, Maharashtra, announced a statewide protest, starting May 4, on Monday.

According to the announcement, rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra intend to present a signed memorandum to the state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik by April 28, demanding the withdrawal of the directive; should the minister not reverse the decision, they will stage daily protests in urban and rural areas.

The directive, slated to be strongly enforced from May 1, requires all commercial rickshaw and taxi drivers to be able to read, speak, and write in Marathi, and those who fail to demonstrate the ability to do so may have to lose their driving licences.

Shashank Sharad Rao (centre), president of the Autorickshaw Driver-Owner Joint Action Committee, announces the decision to launch a statewide protest if the govt's decision is not rolled back, on Monday. PICS/SARTHAK MEHTA

"Why did the transport department issue licences in the first place to non-Marathi speakers? Now that helpless drivers have invested relatively huge amounts to get their permits, the department suddenly turns against them. This is unfair," said Vijay Patil, general secretary, Navi Mumbai Rickshaw Taxi Sanyukt Kruti Samiti.

‘Livelihoods are at stake'

Shashank Sharad Rao, president of the committee, said, "This move will endanger the livelihood of lakhs of self-employed auto drivers who are already struggling to make ends meet. This decision has been taken by the transport minister only to provide financial benefits to aggregator companies and private industrialists; 75 per cent of auto and taxi drivers primarily speak Hindi in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and the figure must be 50 to 60 per cent for the rest of Maharashtra. This move unnecessarily threatens their livelihood."

What action is expected to be taken from May 1?

>> Statewide verification drives will be conducted
>> Issued licences and permits might get suspended and cancelled if drivers fail on-spot language tests by the transport department

Voices ‘n' choices

Santy Shetty, Kandivli resident
‘Speaking Marathi shows respect for the state, but one cannot simply confiscate licences/permits. They can just be advised to learn some basics as it will be helpful for them, too'

Sunil Shah, Dadar resident
‘Auto drivers and cabbies must know the local language. Even a basic understanding/speaking skills will do. There must be an acceptance and willingness to learn. When one has that attitude, one can learn very quickly'

In numbers

Rs 15,000 Cost of an auto licence in cities
Rs 5000 Cost of an autorickshaw licence in rural areas
Rs 400 to Rs 600 Daily average earnings of an auto or taxi driver
60% Approximate percentage of those affected by govt mandate

Driver voices

Kailash Mahadev Pandit, Auto driver with 30 years' experience
‘I got my own permit and auto in 2014. We can communicate the basics in Marathi, but many of us don't even know how to read and write in Hindi. How will such people pass written tests? I support the idea of promoting the local language, but the implementation is wrong. Drivers have already paid their dues for permits and licences, but the authorities are planning to cancel these. This is unacceptable. We hope that the transport minister and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, being former auto drivers, will understand our plight'

Manoj Singh, Vasai resident and taxi driver
‘I have been driving a taxi since 1999. At the time, I paid Rs 15,000 for my permit and badge, and now we barely earn Rs 15000 a month. I speak basic Marathi and support the idea, but I wonder what will happen to drivers who find it difficult to pick up the language. The authorities should have given them enough time to brush up on their linguistic skills'

Asraf Ansari, Dharavi resident
‘I've been driving since 2006. I had paid Rs 5000 then for my permits. We are already losing business to bike taxis. Earlier, we managed to earn Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 a month. But now, the figure is between Rs 15,000 and Rs 16,000. It seems that 80 per cent will lose even these meagre earnings if this rule is implemented'

Inputs by Hemal Ashar