Marathi knowledge, 15 yrs domicile must for taxi permits: Maharashtra Govt

The Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra decided to give new taxi licenses to only those persons who are well versed in Marathi and have resided in the state for at least 15 years. Amending the taxi permit rules that has given another dimension to migrant politics in the state since new migrants cannot now get taxi permits, the government however clarified that existing taxi drivers, who hold a valid license, would not be affected by the decision.A decision to frame the new rules that could stoke a controversy was taken a meeting of the state cabinet presided by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. "It has been decided that henceforth licenses will be issued to only those taxi drivers who have been a resident of the state for at least 15 years and can read and write Marathi," an official from the Chief Minister's office said.
The Bombay Taximen's association, the oldest in the city, quickly condemned the decision with its secretary A L Quadros saying it was unacceptable and politically motivated. A sizeable section of over two lakh taxi drivers in Mumbai consists of migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand and the decision could have an adverse fallout on those from these states wanting to earn a living driving taxis. About 4,000 new taxi permits are given each year. "There is an attempt to make it(Taxi services) an organised sector and the drivers who will be employed in it should know Marathi, read Marathi and write Marathi. Such is the proposal of the government," Chavan told reporters.