Taxi, auto unions welcome one-year extension to learn Marathi, cite livelihood concerns

MUMBAI: Autorickshaw and taxi unions on Friday welcomed the Maharashtra government’s decision to give drivers one year to acquire working knowledge of Marathi, saying the move removes the immediate threat to their livelihoods.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the extension after a delegation of unions met him at Sahyadri Guest House on Thursday. The decision puts immediate action against drivers who do not know Marathi on hold and gives them additional time to learn the language.

The announcement came a day after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde distributed certificates to around 20,000 autorickshaw and taxi drivers who had completed a Marathi language course in Mumbai.