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The Maharashtra government has unveiled a new policy aimed at promoting the use of Marathi language, with one of its key provisions seeking to make knowledge of Marathi mandatory for taxi and auto rickshaw drivers in the state. This move comes despite a previous directive being struck down by the Bombay High Court.
Approved by the state cabinet on Wednesday, the policy document emphasizes the importance of Marathi as the official language of the High Court and advocates for its increased usage in government offices. It also calls for greater emphasis on Marathi language education, starting from preschools and nurseries.
The overarching goal of the policy is to promote, preserve, conserve, and develop Marathi over the next 25 years, establishing it as a language of knowledge acquisition and employment. Modern technology, including tools like ChatGPT, will be leveraged to conserve and promote various dialects of the language.
The policy extends its reach across various sectors, including education, law, finance, business, and media. One notable proposal is the requirement for drivers of passenger vehicles to demonstrate proficiency in Marathi before being issued permits, similar to a directive issued in 2016. However, the previous directive faced opposition from auto rickshaw unions in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and was ultimately revoked by the High Court.
Additionally, the policy document reiterates the demand to change the name of the Bombay High Court to Mumbai High Court, despite the central government clarifying last year that there are no immediate plans for such a change. The document also advocates for agreements between real estate developers and customers to be in Marathi or bilingual, along with similar requirements for property sale documents.
Furthermore, the policy mandates officials at government and semi-government offices, excluding those from outside the state, to communicate only in Marathi. Non-compliance could result in repercussions for these officials.
As the Maharashtra government pushes forward with its efforts to promote Marathi language and culture, the proposed policy represents a significant step toward ensuring the language’s preservation and proliferation in the state.
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