MAHARASHTRA Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday said the entire process of verifying Marathi language knowledge while issuing new badges to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers will be videographed from Thursday. The measure was aimed at ensuring transparency in the implementation of the amended motor vehicle rules, making “working knowledge” of Marathi mandatory for such drivers, Sarnaik said at a press conference in Mantralaya. The Minister has also directed officials of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to record videos when they test the drivers’ working knowledge during the special drive that will start on Thursday. Notably, the rule requiring knowledge of Marathi existed earlier but was not strictly enforced.

 

The new measure aims to prevent malpractices in issuing badges to drivers. Under the recently amended State motor vehicle rules, drivers face a one-month notice to acquire a “working knowledge” of Marathi. Failure to do so can result in a three-month license suspension and the eventual cancellation of their operating permits. Sarnaik said, “From tomorrow, the process of issuing taxi and auto-rickshaw badges will be video recorded.” Transport officials have been directed to strictly follow the prescribed procedure while conducting the Marathi language verification, he said. Sarnaik announced that a drive will begin on Thursday to act against autorickshaw and taxi drivers without a “working knowledge” of Marathi. Action will be initiated against those who do not possess the required certificate or working knowledge of Marathi. Notices will first be issued, and if compliance is not achieved, the driver’s licence and badge may be suspended for three months, he said.

 

“If someone fails to do so even after three months, orders will be issued for cancellation of their licence and badge,” Sarnaik said. Additional Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad will lead the month-long drive against non-Marathi taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers across the State, the Minister said. The RTO flying squads have been instructed through video conference to carry out checks and ensure implementation of the amended rules. Earlier, pointing to a provision in the amended motor vehicle rules, Sarnaik had on Tuesday said that autorickshaw and taxi drivers across the State will be given an opportunity to learn Marathi before any punitive action is taken against them. However, the statement failed to allay fears among a large section of commercial passenger drivers in the State who hail from other parts of the country and lack proficiency in Marathi. Non-Marathi drivers in Maharashtra fear losing livelihoods over the ambiguous “working knowledge” requirement in the mandatory language rule, despite State assurances that they will get sufficient learning time, including a 30-day notice period, before permits are revoked. In April this year, Sarnaik announced that all commercial passenger vehicle drivers in Maharashtra must have a working knowledge of Marathi.

 

Later, a three-month Marathi learning initiative was launched, which concluded on August 15. “After this initiative, 1,65,601 drivers from across Maharashtra have come forward,” Sarnaik said on Tuesday, adding that the Marathi Language Department would work with the Transport Department and other officials to strengthen the initiative. Explaining the rationale behind the drive, the Shiv Sena MLA said the Government wants people to learn the language and decided to continue this project. Nearly six lakh autorickshaw and taxi drivers operating in Maharashtra, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), will be brought under a Marathi-language learning initiative, he added. 

 

 

SHIV Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday sought additional time for autorickshaw and taxi drivers to learn Marathi as the Maharashtra Government is set to implement the “working knowledge” of language drive from Thursday. Requesting Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to take a “liberal view” as drivers have to support their families, Nirupam said they should not be threatened or intimidated. He claimed that allowing Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials to test drivers’ proficiency in Marathi could create another avenue for corruption and harassment. “The Government should not threaten them or create an atmosphere of confrontation. They are already worried about their livelihood,” said Nirupam, the north Indian face of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Mumbai. The former MP claimed that Sarnaik has agreed to take a liberal view on the issue following his request. Earlier in the day, Sarnaik said the entire process of verifying knowledge of the Marathi language while issuing new badges to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers will be videographed from Thursday. The measure was aimed at ensuring transparency in the implementation of the amended motor vehicle rules, making “working knowledge” of Marathi mandatory for such drivers.

 

The Minister has also directed officials of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to record videos when they test the drivers’ working knowledge during the special drive that will start on Thursday. In April, the Government announced that all commercial passenger vehicle drivers in Maharashtra must have a working knowledge of Marathi. Later, a three-month Marathi learning initiative was launched, which concluded on August 15. Unions have claimed that the Government’s “working knowledge of Marathi” requirement is ambiguous and left auto and taxi drivers anxious about a potential loss of livelihood. “The Government should not threaten them or create an atmosphere of confrontation. They are already worried about their livelihood.

 

The initiative should be promoted and taken forward,” Nirupam added. He said Marathi is the language of “bhakti” and not of “sakhti” (force). Nirupam said Shiv Sena’s ideology is to promote Marathi and the language must be given a priority; however, the Government should not antagonise people during enforcement of rules. Under the recently amended State motor vehicle rules, drivers face a one-month notice to acquire a “working knowledge” of Marathi. Failure to do so can result in a three-month license suspension and the eventual cancellation of their operating permits. “From tomorrow, the process of issuing taxi and auto-rickshaw badges will be video recorded,” Sarnaik said. Transport officials have been directed to strictly follow the prescribed procedure while conducting the Marathi language verification, he said. Sarnaik announced that a drive will begin on Thursday to act against autorickshaw and taxi drivers without a “working knowledge” of Marathi. Action will be initiated against those who do not possess the required certificate or working knowledge of Marathi. Notices will first be issued, and if compliance is not achieved, the driver’s licence and badge may be suspended for three months, he said. “If someone fails to do so even after three months, orders will be issued for cancellation of their licence and badge,” Sarnaik said.