Laird: Knowledge of Marathi will be compulsory for all licensed rickshaw and taxi drivers in Maharashtra from May 1 and a nationwide campaign will be conducted through the transport department offices, Cabinet Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by his office, Sarnaik warned that drivers who do not have basic knowledge of Marathi will have their driving licenses revoked.
“From May 1, which coincides with Maharashtra Day, it will be compulsory for all licensed rickshaw pullers and taxi drivers to know Marathi. A nationwide verification campaign will be conducted through 59 regional and sub-regional offices of the transport department to verify whether drivers can read and write the language,” the minister said.
Sarnaik noted that although the rule requiring knowledge of the local language for issuing licenses is already in place, it is widely flouted.
He pointed out that the transport ministry has received numerous complaints, particularly from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Nagpur, regarding drivers being unable or unwilling to communicate with passengers in Marathi.
“It is everyone’s duty to learn the language of the region where they do business. While it is important to be proud of one’s mother tongue, it is equally important to respect the language of the state while working there,” the Shiv Sena leader added.
According to him, the intervention will not only concern drivers.
“Strict action will also be taken against traffic officials who have been found guilty of wrongly issuing licenses by ignoring these laid down rules,” the minister said.
