Mumbai, Amid the Maharashtra transport department’s drive against autorickshaw and taxi drivers lacking adequate knowledge of Marathi, several MLAs of the ruling Shiv Sena have urged the state government to adopt a liberal view and grant drivers additional time to learn the language.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has requested state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to extend the deadline for autorickshaw and taxi drivers to acquire working knowledge of Marathi, emphasising that enforcement measures should not threaten the livelihoods of families.
He urged Sarnaik to take a “liberal view” and said drivers should not be threatened or intimidated.
He said 1.65 lakh drivers had already undergone Marathi training and been issued certificates during a 105-day campaign, which received a good response. Murji Patel, another Shiv Sena lawmaker from Andheri East, said 5,200 drivers underwent language training in his constituency, of which 5,130 cleared the exam.
There is a palpable fear among autorickshaw and taxi drivers after the government’s crackdown, Nirupam said, while maintaining that they must know Marathi. Mangesh Kudalkar, a Shiv Sena MLA from Kurla, said that while it is necessary for autorickshaw and taxi drivers to have working knowledge of Marathi, they need more time to learn the language. Announcing the month-long drive on Wednesday, Sarnaik had stated that the government did not intend to take away anyone’s livelihood, but wanted to ensure that the Marathi language and the state’s identity and culture were preserved.
