Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday said the state government's decision to give public transport drivers one year to learn Marathi was not intended to deprive anyone of their livelihood, amid mixed reactions from taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers to the language requirement.

The Maharashtra government has decided to provide drivers of public transport vehicles with a one-year period to learn and become proficient in Marathi. The decision has triggered questions among some drivers, particularly over whether language proficiency should be made mandatory for those working in the transport sector.