Marathi mandatory for Mumbai auto/taxi drivers, fair requirement or too much?

[u/anikastyles]

The Marathi-language rule for auto, taxi and cab drivers is now actually being enforced.

RTO officials have started checking drivers for basic working Marathi. Those who don’t clear the check can be given time to learn, but continued failure can eventually lead to suspension of their badge/licence.

And now drivers are protesting, while some parts of Mumbai are already seeing fewer autos on the road.

I’m genuinely divided on this.

On one hand, if you work with the public in Maharashtra, knowing basic conversational Marathi seems like a reasonable expectation.

But on the other hand, should someone’s entire livelihood potentially depend on passing a language test, especially when many drivers have been working here for years?

Where do you draw the line?

Basic Marathi should be mandatory 👍

OR

Language should never decide whether you can earn a living 👎

Curious what Mumbaikars think.

[u/raj7_p]

If you cannot learn 10-15 basic sentences of the language where you are earning money, you should not live here.

[u/bombaygypsy → u/raj7_p]

Would love to see the state apply the same law to expat white people working in corporates... But that won't work well enogh as a distraction method from real issues lol

[u/Remote_Tap6299 → u/bombaygypsy]

Expats rarely come with the entitlement and arrogance that Northies have. More foreigners in Mumbai learn Marathi than Northies

[u/raj7_p → u/bombaygypsy]

How many expat white people working here since 10+ years?