Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut recently reacted to Marathi being compulsory for the auto and taxi drivers in the state. He stated that this similar language norms exist in other states as well. Raut said, "West Bengal must have Bengali compulsory, in Gujarat--Gujarati, Kannada in Karnataka, Punjabi in Punjab... So, when we want the same thing for Maharashtra, then what is the problem?"
"Disrespecting Marathi for the sake of vote banks...this won't work...This is for their own good... Knowing the language of the locals will only help the drivers themselves." This comes after the state Transport Minister earlier this month announced that knowledge of the Marathi language would be made compulsory for drivers of auto-rickshaws and taxis across Maharashtra. The state government will begin verifying documents and Marathi language proficiency of drivers from May 1.
This initiative follows efforts to promote Marathi among auto rickshaw and taxi drivers, as discussed by Sarnaik on April 23, with a meeting planned with a trade union leader on April 28. The Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh will teach Marathi to taxi drivers in Mumbai, while the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad will jointly provide instruction in the Konkan region, according to the State Transport Minister.
To promote Marathi, the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh will teach the language to auto rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra, in collaboration with the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad in the Konkan region. According to Transport Minister Sarnaik, a meeting with union leaders, including Shashank Rao, will be held on April 28th to gather suggestions for the initiative. Drivers will need to demonstrate Marathi literacy, and action will be taken against those who violate regulations after inspections beginning May 1. This pilot project seeks to address irregularities in transport license issuance and will be implemented statewide.