Indian state gives taxi and tuk-tuk drivers a year to learn local language
An Indian state has given taxi and tuk-tuk drivers one more year to learn the local language after a new rule making it mandatory sparked protests. Transport officials in the western state of Maharashtra had begun testing drivers’ ability to conduct basic conversations in Marathi, the state’s official language, on 20 August. Those who failed [...] The post Indian state gives taxi and tuk-tuk…
Maharashtra’s state government has granted taxi and tuk-tuk drivers an additional year to become familiar with the local language, Marathi. This decision came after protests erupted following a new regulation mandating drivers to learn the language within a month. The rule was implemented in Maharashtra to enhance communication between drivers and passengers, aiming to ensure safer journeys.
However, the requirement has sparked controversy, primarily due to concerns over the livelihoods of drivers, many of whom are migrants from other parts of India.
Drivers protested as they feared losing their means of income while still learning the language. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded by announcing that drivers would be given a further year to learn Marathi. Pratap Sarnaik, the State Transport Minister, stated that drivers would be expected to learn the language within the year, with further extensions to follow.
The rule affects nearly half of the state’s 979,000 valid taxi and taxi permits, with a significant number located in the Mumbai metropolitan region.
The debate over language, migration, and employment has been a long-standing issue in Maharashtra, dating back to the region’s creation in 1960. The Shiv Sena, a political party advocating for Marathi identity and regional interests, has been influential in shaping the state's political landscape. The government maintains that drivers are not expected to read, write, or speak Marathi fluently but rather to acquire a "working knowledge" of the language.
To facilitate driver training, the government has organized classes focusing on essential Marathi words and phrases used in daily work scenarios.
Despite the government's efforts to help drivers, some, like Ajay Singh, a taxi driver in Mumbai, find it challenging to balance work with learning. Singh, who earns between 1,500 and 2,000 rupees daily, worries about the financial implications of taking time off from his driving job. The extension has provided some relief to drivers, who expressed feelings of relief and the possibility of continuing their work without fearing the loss of their licenses.
However, the issue has reignited a broader discussion on language, migration, and jobs in Maharashtra, highlighting the complex relationship between language and political identity in the region.
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
