MUMBAI: Taxi and autorickshaw drivers across Maharashtra are being are being put through a 16-question test on their working knowledge of Marathi, with Regional Transport Office teams issuing one-month notices to those who fail to answer satisfactorily and warning that their badges could be suspended if they continue to fall short.The statewide exercise began on Thursday, a day after transport minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the move to enforce the requirement of working knowledge of Marathi for taxi, autorickshaw and app-based cab drivers.Drivers are being asked 16 questions based on situations they commonly encounter while working, rather than being tested on formal language skills.The questionnaire was sent by the Transport Commissioner’s office and draws on the Marathi training provided to taxi and autorickshaw drivers by the Konkan Sahitya Parishad.Among the responses officials expect drivers to understand and use are: “Mala CNG bharayche aahe. Thode thambave lagel” (I need to fill up with CNG, we’ll have to stop for a while); “majhi rickshaw/taxi sharingchi aahe” (my auto/taxi is a shared one); and “meter chalu kele aahe” (have started the meter).RTO officials said the questions focus on routine interactions such as asking passengers about their destination, understanding directions and communicating about fares, meters, routes and taxi or autorickshaw stands.“We have started checking whether the drivers know Marathi. Those who do not know the language will be issued a one-month notice and asked to learn Marathi within that period.“If, after one month, they are still unable to answer the questions satisfactorily, their badge will be suspended for three months. They will again be given a month to learn the language. This action will continue,” said an RTO inspector conducting the check at Dadar in central Mumbai.The transport department has also instructed RTO officials to videograph the testing process.Sarnaik, while announcing the month-long drive on Wednesday, said the government did not intend to affect anyone’s livelihood, but wanted to ensure that Marathi, along with the state’s identity and culture, was preserved.He said 1.65 lakh drivers had already undergone Marathi training and received certificates during a 105-day campaign, which he said had received a good response.The move follows the state government’s recent amendment to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making working knowledge of Marathi mandatory for taxi and autorickshaw drivers.However, some leaders of taxi and autorickshaw unions have questioned the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes “working knowledge” of Marathi under the amended rules.“The Maharashtra government has recently amended the law to make working knowledge of Marathi mandatory for rickshaw and taxi drivers, but what is meant by working knowledge is not clearly defined. Obviously, it will fuel corruption in the RTOs,” said DM Gosavi, leader of the Seva Sarathi Taxi Union.Union leaders have also threatened an agitation if the enforcement drive results in financial exploitation of drivers.Retired RTO officials said the amended rules also do not specify a detailed test or a standardised benchmark for determining working knowledge.“The working knowledge of Marathi is not clearly defined in the amended rules. It should have been clarified whether the RTO should conduct an oral or written test of drivers before issuing a badge,” said a former RTO official, requesting anonymity.According to Sarnaik, practical knowledge of Marathi for operating taxis and autorickshaws has been a requirement in Maharashtra since 1989 but was not strictly enforced. The provision will now be implemented more strictly following a legal amendment made on August 12.(With PTI inputs)
