Mira-Bhayandar has begun distributing Marathi language proficiency certificates to 7,000 autorickshaw drivers under an initiative aimed at improving everyday communication between drivers and passengers. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik presented certificates to a group of drivers at an event held at the Lata Mangeshkar Natyagruha, according to a report by Loksatta.
The initiative is focused on autorickshaw drivers from outside Maharashtra who operate in the city. A Marathi language workshop was organised for them, with training designed to help drivers manage routine interactions and transactions in Marathi. Drivers who completed the training are being issued certificates, with the distribution planned in phases.
The reported programme places language training within the day-to-day functioning of the city’s public transport network. Autorickshaws are a key point of contact for residents travelling to railway stations, neighbourhood markets, residential areas and other local destinations. The training is intended to give drivers the Marathi language skills needed for basic transactions with passengers, rather than provide an academic language course.
Speaking at the event, Sarnaik said that autorickshaw and taxi drivers conducting business in Maharashtra should have working knowledge of Marathi for day-to-day interactions. The report did not specify the assessment method used for the certification, the duration of the workshop or whether the certificate will be linked to permit renewal or any other regulatory process.
Sarnaik also said that autorickshaw drivers from outside Maharashtra had been given an additional year to learn Marathi. The extension indicates that the language requirement is being implemented through a transition period rather than an immediate compliance deadline. The report did not provide details of the earlier deadline or the administrative procedure that drivers must follow during the extended period.
The programme is being presented alongside the planned revival of the Hinduhṛdayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Campaign in the state. According to the minister, the campaign will run from 2 October 2026 to 23 January 2027. He said that 165,800 students had received Marathi training under the campaign so far.
For Mira-Bhayandar’s transport system, the immediate operational question is how the certificate programme will be administered across the city’s autorickshaw workforce. The reported plan covers 7,000 drivers, but the source report does not state the total number of autorickshaws operating in the city, the number of workshops to be conducted or the authority responsible for monitoring completion.
The next phase of the initiative will involve the continued distribution of certificates to drivers who complete the Marathi language training. The state campaign is scheduled to restart on 2 October 2026 and continue until 23 January 2027.
