📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Merlyn007
Politics
Shiv Sena MLAs urge Maharashtra govt to give auto drivers more time to learn Marathi
✍️ Amar Ujala · Maharashtra
🗓 23 Aug 2026, 08:35 PM
👁 13
Shiv Sena legislators have asked the Maharashtra government to extend the deadline for auto‑taxi drivers to become proficient in Marathi, citing the need for a realistic learning period.
Shiv Sena members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly have formally requested the state government to grant auto‑taxi and other commercial vehicle drivers a longer period to acquire proficiency in Marathi. The party argues that the current timeline does not accommodate the practical challenges faced by drivers who must balance work hours with language training.
The request comes amid the Maharashtra government's intensified push to promote Marathi as the primary language of public interaction. Recent directives have set a deadline for drivers of auto‑rickshaws and taxis to demonstrate basic Marathi communication skills, aiming to improve passenger service and reinforce the state's linguistic identity.
Shiv Sena leaders contend that extending the deadline will prevent potential loss of livelihood for drivers who might otherwise be penalised for non‑compliance. They have urged the administration to consider a phased implementation that aligns with the drivers' work schedules and offers accessible training resources.
State officials have not yet disclosed a response, but the issue is expected to be debated in the upcoming assembly session, where language policy and transport sector regulations intersect.
The request comes amid the Maharashtra government's intensified push to promote Marathi as the primary language of public interaction. Recent directives have set a deadline for drivers of auto‑rickshaws and taxis to demonstrate basic Marathi communication skills, aiming to improve passenger service and reinforce the state's linguistic identity.
Shiv Sena leaders contend that extending the deadline will prevent potential loss of livelihood for drivers who might otherwise be penalised for non‑compliance. They have urged the administration to consider a phased implementation that aligns with the drivers' work schedules and offers accessible training resources.
State officials have not yet disclosed a response, but the issue is expected to be debated in the upcoming assembly session, where language policy and transport sector regulations intersect.