Mumbai: A day after large-scale protests by a section of non-Marathi-speaking autorickshaw and taxi drivers, Maharashtra govt on Tuesday sought to reassure transport workers by announcing 161 Marathi language training centres across the state and a dedicated RTO helpline to address complaints of harassment, illegal fines and alleged irregularities during Marathi proficiency checks.
A day earlier, drivers who were served notices had expressed concerns as they had no place to go to learn Marathi during the one-month notice period.
Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said the centres would become operational within the next two to three days, giving drivers easier access to basic Marathi training. Addressing a news conference, Sarnaik said the objective was not punitive but aimed at improving communication between drivers and passengers. The minister has agreed to restart and expand them, including a centre at our Goregaon office,” he said. Rao said drivers should not panic as govt has agreed to provide sufficient time for compliance.
The move follows demands from driver unions for more time and support to comply with govt mandate requiring public transport drivers to have basic conversational Marathi skills. He stressed that govt was committed to helping drivers learn the language rather than taking away their livelihoods. To support the initiative, training programmes will continue through organisations such as Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, with centres identified across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Nalasopara and Bhiwandi. “Many centres had been shut, leaving drivers with no avenue to learn. From Wednesday, union representatives will fan out across suburbs, distribute handbills and encourage drivers to enrol in language classes.
Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union leader Shashank Rao, who met Sarnaik on Tuesday, said the reopening of training centres was the key outcome of the meeting.