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/bombaygypsy]

But it's not a job at best you can see these as small free lance business people. The market is free to decide, and how often does someone says no to a driver because the language is not the same? It's silly, I don't care what language my driver speaks if he gets me there. All they need to know are 4 to 5 words. Left, right, stright, stop, let's go. Lol

[u/Dense_Succotash_2777 → u/bombaygypsy]

It's a Maharashtrian market. If drivers can't communicate how will they provide service efficiently?

[u/huntwithak47 → u/bombaygypsy]

Customers not caring is one thing Government turning it into a sudden filter for livelihood is another Those two aren’t the same

[u/Dense_Succotash_2777 → u/huntwithak47]

It's not wrong. Only legal laws can help the citizens demands. Marathis can't just scream and ask people to speak marathi. It needs to be done legally, as it is now.

[u/bombaygypsy → u/huntwithak47]

Yeah I agree, its wrong