No need to make drivers Marathi experts, basic communication enough: Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday clarified that the state government's Marathi language mandate for autorickshaw and taxi drivers aims only at basic communication, not at making Hindi-speaking drivers "experts" in the language.

Fadnavis asserted that the Mahayuti administration would not tolerate injustice against anyone on the basis of language, adding that taxi and autorickshaw drivers would be given additional time if required to acquire functional knowledge of Marathi.

The Maharashtra Transport Department launched a statewide drive from August 20 to check drivers' working knowledge of Marathi.


"There is no reason to make them (drivers) experts in Marathi. They should know work-related, basic Marathi," he said, adding that drivers had already been given additional time to learn the language and no licence had been cancelled so far.

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had said that drivers found lacking in the required proficiency would initially be allowed to learn the language.

"If they fail to comply, their licence and badge would be suspended for three months, and continued non-compliance could lead to cancellation of the licence and badge," he had said, emphasising that the drive didn't intend to impact anyone's livelihood but wants to ensure that Marathi language and the state's identity and culture are preserved.