Maharashtra Marathi mandate: Pratap Sarnaik says one-year deadline for drivers will not cost livelihoods

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. File Pic

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday said the state government's decision to give public transport drivers one year to learn Marathi was not intended to deprive anyone of their livelihood, amid mixed reactions from taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers to the language requirement.

The Maharashtra government has decided to provide drivers of public transport vehicles with a one-year period to learn and become proficient in Marathi. The decision has triggered questions among some drivers, particularly over whether language proficiency should be made mandatory for those working in the transport sector.

Sarnaik said the decision taken by the state government was binding on the transport department and stressed that the intention was not to affect employment.

Sarnaik says government does not intend to affect employment

"The decision taken by the state's Chief Minister is a decision of the Mahayuti government. As the Minister of Transport, the decision he took is binding upon us... We do not wish to snatch away anyone's livelihood," Sarnaik told reporters.

The minister said the government expected people working in the state to develop an affinity for Maharashtra's culture and be able to communicate effectively in Marathi.

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Sarnaik said, "Our point is simply that one should have an affinity for Maharashtra's culture and its soil. Just as every state has its own identity, we believe we should have a Marathi identity... During this year, however, you must become proficient in Marathi, not just a smattering of words, but the ability to communicate fluently with others, just as we do. The extension was granted solely for the Marathi language requirement, not to exempt anyone from legal action."

The government has given drivers a year to meet the language requirement, though details regarding its implementation and the standards for determining proficiency are expected to be clarified further.

Taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers give mixed response

The decision has drawn mixed reactions from taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers in Maharashtra, with some welcoming the additional time while questioning why learning the language should be mandatory.

The government has maintained that the one-year period has been provided specifically to allow drivers to become proficient in Marathi and that the decision is not aimed at taking away employment.

However, questions remain among drivers regarding the implementation of the mandate, the extent of the language proficiency expected and whether the requirement will apply uniformly across different categories of public transport services.

(With inputs from ANI)