The Indian state of Maharashtra has provided taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers with a one-year grace period to learn the local language, Marathi. This move comes after an earlier mandate requiring drivers to learn the language or risk losing their licenses sparked protests. The government's current policy aims to ensure drivers have a "working knowledge" of Marathi, not necessarily fluency or literacy.
To facilitate this, the state's transport department has organized classes focusing on essential Marathi words and phrases relevant to drivers' daily interactions with passengers. These include greetings, fare inquiries, and directional questions. Approximately 166,000 drivers have already completed this training and passed an oral proficiency test, receiving certificates that can be presented to transport officials.
One driver, Munawar Sheikh, a 58-year-old tuk-tuk operator, found the four-day training course in Thane, near Mumbai, beneficial. He learned 16 common phrases, such as "Where do you want to go?" and "The fare will be according to the meter," enabling him to manage basic conversations.
However, some drivers face challenges in balancing the training with their work schedules. Ajay Singh, a taxi driver in Mumbai, expressed his desire to learn Marathi but struggles to find time during his long working hours. He stated that taking time off for classes would impact his daily earnings, which he needs to cover essential expenses like rent and school fees for his children. Singh is attempting to learn Marathi passively by listening to radio stations and conversing with Marathi-speaking passengers.
Another driver, Lakhan Pandey, noted that the extended year has been helpful, emphasizing that while he is willing to learn Marathi as he lives and works in the state, he needs adequate time without jeopardizing his livelihood.