Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in the Kandivali region of Mumbai parked their vehicles and staged a protest over the Marathi mandate, claiming that the pressure to learn the language to be able to drive in the city is ‘unfair’. Traffic on Kandivali Link Road was briefly disrupted after the protesters began a three-day strike demanding justice.
The Maharashtra Transport Department has been enforcing a rule requiring auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to demonstrate a working knowledge of the state’s primary language, Marathi. The Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state have been carrying out checks and issuing notices to drivers lacking adequate knowledge of the language. One month is being given to drivers to learn the language. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of their badges for three months. Continued refusal to learn Marathi could lead to action to permanently cancel both the badge and permit.
Maharashtra has around 9.65 lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. 1.65 lakh drivers have undergone Marathi training and received certificates, according to State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
