MUMBAI, April 24 -- Just 10 days after announcing a drive to test the Marathi language skills of licenced auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers from May 1, to eliminate fake permit holders, the state transport department has softened its stance. Following threats of a state-wide strike on May 4 from resentful unions, transport minister Pratap Sarnaik switched his strategy on Thursday shifting focus from the mandatory language test to offering free tuitions to drivers willing to learn Marathi. The minister said that he will hold a meeting with the unions and discuss the proposal on April 28. Should the drivers comply with the government's proposal of availing the free lessons, the drive to test their Marathi skills on May 1 will be deferred. On this day the government will only run checks on their valid documents required for permits. "Instead of opposing the mandatory test of Marathi language, we can give them time and one opportunity to learn communicating in the language free of cost. But they should shed their opposition towards the language. If they continue to oppose Marathi then we will remain firm on our earlier stand," Sarnaik told HT. On May 1 RTOs will scrutinise drivers' papers as they have received complaints about submission of fake domicile certificates and other documents required for permits. On Thursday morning, Sarnaik held a meeting with litterateurs to discuss the training programme to impart communication skills to non-Marathi speaking drivers. Ujjwala Mehendale, working president of Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, Bal Kandalakar, Thane president of Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad, poet Arun Mhatre and other prominent scholars attended the meeting. Together they decided that a basic course will be devised to impart rudimentary Marathi communication skills, which drivers require to communicate with commuters. Mehendale and Kandalkar extended the support of their organisations to fulfil this need. Mehendale noted that following the meeting the language scholars prepared a four-page booklet of essential Marathi dialogues that drivers require for daily interactions with commuters. "We have submitted the document to the transport department. The booklet, which includes interactions on transactions, destinations and directions, will help drivers in their daily routine. Our volunteers can offer online training," said Mehendale. Kandalkar added that his organisation can also "train drivers offline for a few hours if the government facilitates it". After the meeting, Sarnaik said, "The transport department will listen to the unions' stand on April 28. It is important as it will decide the future course of action on the language test." Meanwhile, Sanjay Nirupam, Sarnaik's colleague from the Shiv Sena, pointed out the drawback of the test in a written communication, which he also posted on X. In the letter Nirupam said: "Don't impose mandatory Marathi on drivers. But only expect a basic Marathi-speaking skill from them which they need daily."...