Mumbai, April 25 -- A recent government order making knowledge of Marathi compulsory for obtaining an auto-rickshaw permit has triggered a significant response among migrant drivers, many of whom are now returning to their home states.
The new rule, which will come into effect from May 1-coinciding with Maharashtra Day-requires all auto-rickshaw drivers to demonstrate basic proficiency in the Marathi language.
The decision has created anxiety among thousands of migrant drivers, particularly those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who have been working in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for years.
Reports indicate that a growing number of such drivers have begun leaving the city and heading back to their native places.
The movement is especia...