Marathi mandate triggers statewide stir among drivers in Maharashtra

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 DriverOwner Joint Action Committee Maharashtra announced a statewide protest starting May 4 on MondayAccording 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 areasThe 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 licencesShashank Sharad Rao centre president of the Autorickshaw DriverOwner Joint Action Committee announces the decision to launch a statewide protest if the govtrsquos decision is not rolled back on Monday PICSSARTHAK MEHTAldquoWhy did the transport department issue licences in the first place to nonMarathi speakers Now that helpless drivers have invested relatively huge amounts to get their permits the department suddenly turns against them This is unfairrdquo said Vijay Patil general secretary Navi Mumbai Rickshaw Taxi Sanyukt Kruti SamitilsquoLivelihoods are at stakersquoShashank Sharad Rao president of the committee said ldquoThis move will endanger the livelihood of lakhs of selfemployed 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 livelihoodrdquoWhat action is expected to be taken from May 1gtgt Statewide verification drives will be conductedgtgt Issued licences and permits might get suspended and cancelled if drivers fail onspot language tests by the transport departmentVoices lsquonrsquo choicesSanty Shetty Kandivli residentlsquoSpeaking Marathi shows respect for the state but one cannot simply confiscate licencespermits They can just be advised to learn some basics as it will be helpful for them toorsquoSunil Shah Dadar residentlsquoAuto drivers and cabbies must know the local language Even a basic understandingspeaking skills will do There must be an acceptance and willingness to learn When one has that attitude one can learn very quicklyrsquoIn numbersRs 15000 Cost of an auto licence in citiesRs 5000 Cost of an autorickshaw licence in rural areasRs 400 to Rs 600 Daily average earnings of an auto or taxi driver6037 Approximate percentage of those affected by govt mandateDriver voicesKailash Mahadev Pandit Auto driver with 30 yearsrsquo experiencelsquoI got my own permit and auto in 2014 We can communicate the basics in Marathi but many of us donrsquot 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 plightrsquoManoj Singh Vasai resident and taxi driverlsquoI have been driving a taxi since 1999 At the time I paid Rs 15000 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 skillsrsquoAsraf Ansari Dharavi residentlsquoIrsquove 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 25000 to Rs 30000 a month But now the figure is between Rs 15000 and Rs 16000 It seems that 80 per cent will lose even these meagre earnings if this rule is implementedrsquoInputs by Hemal Ashar