Mumbai: Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik on Monday put on hold the decision to cancel licences and permits of auto and taxi drivers from May 1 over non-compliance with the Marathi language requirement, opting instead for a phased campaign on awareness, verification and training.
The Mumbai Autorickshawmen's Union called off its May 4 protest after discussions with the minister.
Survey and Verification Drive
From May 1 to August 15, the government will conduct a comprehensive survey across 59 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to determine how many drivers are Marathi-speaking and how many are not. This exercise will also help detect fake licences, bogus badges, and permit-related irregularities.
Training for Non-Marathi Speakers
Non-Marathi-speaking drivers will be guided to training centres and offered tuition to acquire practical proficiency in Marathi. "After giving them a reasonable chance, we will strictly enforce the law," Sarnaik said.
The transport ministry has withdrawn its earlier decision requiring reading and writing tests in Marathi. Instead, it will prepare a short curriculum focused on practical use of the language.
Background
The initial decision to cancel licences from May 1 had sparked protests from auto and taxi unions, who argued that many drivers from other states would lose their livelihoods. The revised approach aims to balance language promotion with the economic interests of drivers.
About the Author: Somit Sen, Senior Editor at The Times of India, Mumbai. He covers stories on Power beat in Maharashtra and on Oil & Gas. He also covers RTO, BEST (Mumbai's public transport buses), transport ministry, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, interstate transport (trucks/tempos) and the fleetcabs.
