#Maharashtra : Breather For Auto-rickshaw and Taxi drivers, Get One-Year To Learn Marathi, Announces Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Picture : ANI/X

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has  announced that the state government has decided to give auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers one year to learn functional Marathi.

No action will be taken against drivers during this period for not having the required knowledge of the state’s official language, he said, days after the transport department headed by Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik carried out a checking drive and issued notices to the drivers who failed a Marathi test.

“They requested that they be given one year’s time. The state government has accepted their demand and is giving them one year. No action will be taken during this period,” Fadnavis said.

Representatives of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers’ organisations, led by Haji Arfat Shaikh, met him, Fadnavis told reporters, adding that they fully supported the rule that drivers should learn basic Marathi and were willing to learn it.

During the one-year period, Marathi classes will be organised and study material will be provided to help drivers learn fuctional marathi .