The Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad, a prominent literary organisation in Maharashtra, announced that it plans to teach the Marathi language to non-local cab drivers by introducing structured instructional classes across its 72 branches. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address communication gaps between drivers and passengers in the state.
Members from several literary organisations across Maharashtra, including the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh and the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad, collectively expressed their readiness to provide Marathi language training to non-Marathi speakers. This outreach is specifically aimed at commercial vehicle operators such as auto-rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers, and app-based cab drivers, many of whom come from outside the state and may not be fluent in Marathi.
This move comes shortly after the Maharashtra government introduced a directive making it compulsory for commercial vehicle drivers to communicate with passengers in Marathi starting from May 1. Following this policy decision, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, a leader associated with the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, convened a high-level meeting. The meeting brought together administrative officials along with representatives from various literary bodies to discuss implementation strategies.
During this meeting, the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad confirmed that it would roll out offline Marathi teaching sessions through its extensive network of branches. At the same time, the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh proposed a parallel initiative to provide online Marathi language training, leveraging a large pool of volunteer teachers spread across different regions. It was also clarified that these training programs would be offered completely free of cost to the drivers, ensuring accessibility and encouraging participation.
As multiple suggestions and proposals emerged from the literary organisations, Pratap Sarnaik stated that the state government would soon design and formalize a standardized curriculum to guide the teaching process and maintain consistency across training programs.
The government’s decision to mandate Marathi communication among drivers was influenced by repeated complaints from passengers who faced difficulties due to language barriers. According to sources, a significant number of commuters had reported that many drivers were unable to converse in Marathi, leading to inconvenience during daily travel, especially since a large proportion of drivers originate from other states.
To address this issue in a systematic manner, the government introduced the measure of equipping non-Marathi drivers with basic language skills, thereby improving communication and enhancing the overall travel experience for passengers.
Speaking on the initiative, Pratap Sarnaik explained that alongside the enforcement of this rule, a statewide campaign would be conducted in conjunction with the observance of Maharashtra Day. During this campaign, authorities would inspect the licences of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, not only to verify regulatory compliance but also to assess whether drivers possess a functional understanding of the Marathi language.
He further emphasized that the intention behind the initiative and the associated meeting was to remove any misunderstandings or fears among non-Marathi-speaking drivers. The government aims to ensure that the policy is seen as supportive and facilitative rather than punitive.
Additionally, several well-known literary figures are expected to actively participate in this campaign and contribute to the teaching efforts. Among those likely to be involved are Ujjwala Mehendale, along with Mahesh Keluskar, Santosh Rane, Ashok Bagwe, Bal Kandalkar, Sunil Tambe, and Shivaji Gawade, all of whom are associated with literary and cultural initiatives in the region.
