Indian state gives taxi and tuk-tuk drivers a year to learn local language
Summary
The Indian state of Maharashtra has given taxi and tuk-tuk drivers an extra year to learn Marathi, the state's official language, after new rules triggered protests. Drivers must learn basic Marathi to improve communication with passengers, but many are migrant workers who need more time, according to state officials.Key Facts
- Maharashtra started testing drivers on their Marathi language skills on 20 August.
- Drivers who failed were initially given one month to learn Marathi or risk losing their licenses.
- Protests arose because many drivers are migrants from other states and worried about losing jobs.
- The state extended the deadline by one year for drivers to learn Marathi.
- Maharashtra has about 979,000 valid taxi and tuk-tuk permits, half in Mumbai.
- The language rule aims to make travel safer and improve communication.
- Marathi language and identity issues are deeply connected to job and migration politics in Maharashtra.
- Maharashtra’s history includes political movements supporting Marathi speakers’ rights to jobs and language use.
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