ANI |
Up to date: Aug 28, 2026 14:39 IST
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 28 (ANI): Non-Marathi auto-rickshaw drivers in Mumbai on Friday celebrated and expressed gratitude in direction of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after the state authorities granted a one-year extension for non-Marathi drivers to study the Marathi language.
The drivers have been seen dancing and celebrating the choice, calling it a reduction for individuals who are keen to study Marathi however require extra time and help.
CM Fadnavis on Thursday acknowledged that representatives of auto and rickshaw drivers’ organisations had met him and expressed help for the requirement that folks working in Mumbai ought to have purposeful data of Marathi. Following this, the state authorities agreed with their level and gave them one 12 months.
BJP Dhadak Kamgar Union chief Abhijit Rane welcomed the choice, saying numerous non-Maharashtrian employees, notably auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, have been desirous to study Marathi however confronted sensible difficulties.
Chatting with ANI, Rane mentioned, “I really feel that greater than 50 per cent of individuals nonetheless needed to study Marathi. The place there was a scarcity of lecturers, RTO officers’ observations and different administrative necessities weren’t fulfilled. Our North Indian brothers and non-Maharashtrian brothers had an ideal enthusiasm to talk and study Marathi.”
He mentioned employee representatives had approached the Maharashtra government with knowledge highlighting the challenges confronted by drivers within the Mumbai Metropolitan Area (MMR).
“Roughly, within the MMR area, 3.5 to 4 lakh individuals drive rickshaws. Since rickshaws function in three shifts, there are roughly 9 lakh drivers on this area, whereas solely a small variety of individuals had learnt Marathi,” Rane mentioned.
Rane claimed that the sooner figures associated to Marathi language certification didn’t match the full variety of drivers.
“The transport minister had given a press release that now we have given certificates to a couple of lakh individuals. However one lakh and 9 lakh, this share was additionally not matching. The illustration I gave to Devendra ji was fastidiously thought of by him, and after taking info, we obtained this reduction,” he mentioned.
Welcoming the choice, Rane mentioned non-Marathi auto and taxi drivers have been eager to study the language.
“All our non-Maharashtrian rickshaw and taxi drivers and house owners have an ideal enthusiasm that they wish to study Marathi, and now they may study it in a great way,” he mentioned.
Rane additionally claimed that efforts have been made for almost 30 days to lift the problem with Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, however alleged that their issues weren’t addressed.
“Devendra ji is a smart chief; he understands our laborious work, labour and our enthusiasm to study Marathi. There was no hesitation from our aspect to study Marathi. Marathi is a straightforward language,” he added.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Majeed Memon additionally appreciated CM Fadnavis whereas elevating questions over whether or not language necessities can prohibit an individual’s proper to earn a livelihood.
Memon mentioned, “It’s good that Devendra Fadnavis has given one 12 months’s time. Instances like these are very delicate.”
He questioned whether or not the best to earn a dwelling may very well be affected on the premise of language necessities.
“Can the best to earn a dwelling be obstructed within the title of language? If somebody information a petition, the court docket will determine,” he mentioned.
Memon added that any requirement imposed by the federal government must be examined throughout the framework of constitutional rights.
“If I’ve to do one thing throughout the ambit of the legislation to earn a dwelling, to do one thing legally, can I face any obstacles from the federal government, requiring me to work solely in a specific language? So it is a query of constitutional rights that requires the court docket’s consideration,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, he welcomed the one-year extension introduced by Fadnavis, saying it could present reduction to drivers.
The choice of CM Fadnavis to offer a one-year grace interval comes amid a authorized problem to a Maharashtra government notification issued earlier this month that made working data of Marathi obligatory for auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers. (ANI)
