Maharashtra Transport Department Targets Drivers Lacking Marathi Skills

The Maharashtra Transport Department has taken a decisive step to ensure that drivers possess basic knowledge of the Marathi language. In a recent enforcement initiative, notices were issued to 777 drivers who were found lacking in practical proficiency in Marathi. This move comes as part of a broader inspection campaign that commenced on August 20 and involved testing over 5,200 drivers across the state, including 3,942 in Mumbai alone.

During the third day of this inspection campaign, officials identified drivers who did not meet the language requirement and subsequently served them notices, granting a month-long period to acquire the necessary language skills. This initiative was launched following the expiration of the August 15 deadline, which required taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers to demonstrate functional knowledge of Marathi—a decision that has stirred significant discussions in the state.

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik emphasized that the government is providing ample time for drivers to learn Marathi. However, he also made it clear that strict actions would follow for those who fail to comply with this regulation post-deadline. The mandate for drivers to possess basic Marathi language skills was first introduced on April 14, but its implementation was postponed from the initial deadline of May 1 until mid-August.

In a further extension of the language requirement, Minister Sarnaik stated that the Marathi proficiency rule would also extend to drivers affiliated with ride-hailing services like Ola, Uber, and Rapido, reflecting a comprehensive approach to enhance regional language usage among all transport service providers. The emphasis on language skills is seen as a means to improve communication and service quality for passengers, particularly in a linguistically diverse state like Maharashtra.

As the campaign continues, the Regional Transport Office is poised to enforce the new regulations rigorously, and any driver who fails to pass the Marathi language test after the stipulated timeframe risks losing their operating license. This initiative not only highlights the state government’s commitment to promoting the Marathi language but also sheds light on the broader social implications of language in public service roles.

Source: scroll.in