'No Marathi, no badge': Rickshaw, taxi drivers in Maharashtra face suspension from August 20

Practical knowledge of Marathi will be mandatory for autorickshaw and taxi drivers in Maharashtra from Thursday August 20 with drivers who fail to meet the requirement facing suspension of their badges Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on WednesdayDrivers who do not have practical knowledge of Marathi will initially be given one month to learn the language If they fail to acquire the required knowledge within this period their badge will be suspended for up to three months If they subsequently refuse to learn Marathi deliberately action will be taken to cancel their badge and licence Sarnaik said at a press conferenceThe minister said the rule requiring autorickshaw and taxi drivers to have practical knowledge of Marathi has been in place in the state since 1989 Following the relevant legal provision introduced on August 12 2026 the rule will now be strictly enforced he said165 lakh nonMarathi drivers undergo Marathi trainingThe Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh have been conducting the lsquoHinduhdayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Campaignrsquo for autorickshaw and taxi drivers for the past 105 daysAround 165 lakh nonMarathispeaking autorickshaw and taxi drivers responded to the campaign and underwent Marathi language trainingCertificates were distributed to participating drivers at Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane in the presence of Padma Shri awardee and veteran litterateur Madhu Mangesh Karnik Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Minister Uday SamantSarnaik congratulated all the drivers who participated in the campaignGovernment does not intend to take away livelihoodsSarnaik said the governmentrsquos objective was not to take away the livelihood of people who have come to Maharashtra from different parts of the countryldquoMaharashtra should provide employment opportunities to citizens who have come from different parts of the country Mumbai has always welcomed citizens from across the country However it is equally important to preserve the pride of Maharashtrarsquos language and culturerdquo he saidHe said the decision had been taken to promote spread and preserve Marathi after the language was granted classical language statusSarnaik said it was the Transport Departmentrsquos responsibility to take action within the legal framework against drivers who refuse to learn or speak MarathildquoDrivers who take a stand that they will neither learn nor speak Marathi will face action within the framework of the law No additional humanitarian extension will now be given to such drivers and action will be taken as per the lawrdquo he saidMarathi language test through video recording for new badgesAround 965 lakh autorickshaw and taxi licences and badges have been issued in Maharashtra so far Sarnaik saidGoing forward when issuing a new licence and badge Regional Transport Office RTO officials will assess the driverrsquos practical knowledge of Marathi through a direct interaction The interaction will also be videorecordedA badge will be issued only after it is established that the driver has practical knowledge of Marathi Sarnaik saidFake domicile certificates to be scrutinisedThe minister said the department had received complaints about the use of fake domicile certificates to obtain autorickshaw and taxi licences or badgesInstructions have been issued to conduct detailed scrutiny of such certificates RTO officials have been directed to verify wherever necessary whether the applicant has actually been residing in Maharashtra for 15 years and conduct an inquiry through the police before taking further actionThe responsibility for the entire drive has been assigned to Additional Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad Sarnaik said a report on the drive would be submitted by the end of next monthRs 57 crore allocated for autorickshaw taxi drivers welfareThe Anand Dighenamed corporation established for the welfare of autorickshaw and taxi drivers has more than 37000 members Sarnaik saidAround Rs 57 crore has been allocated through the corporation for various welfare schemes These include schemes for students a Rs 10000 grant for autorickshaw drivers after they turn 65 and financial assistance for serious illnesses and medical treatment among other initiatives he said