Marathi Now Mandatory in Banks, Railways and Government Offices Across Maharashtra
Marathi Now Mandatory in Banks, Railways and Government Offices Across Maharashtra
Government issues strict order to enforce Marathi usage in all central establishments
In a significant move to promote the use of the Marathi language, the Maharashtra government has made it mandatory to use Marathi in all central offices, including banks, railways, insurance companies, metro, monorail, telecom services, airports, petrol pumps, and tax offices operating within the state. The directive states that Marathi must be used alongside English and Hindi, and district collectors have been instructed to ensure strict compliance.
This decision comes as a reissue of a 2017 government resolution (GR) that had earlier made Marathi compulsory in state government offices under the three-language formula. However, complaints had surfaced that central institutions were not adhering to the directive, prompting the government to reinforce the rule with greater seriousness.
Key Highlights:
- Trilingual Policy Enforced: Offices must now use Marathi along with English and Hindi.
- District Collectors Responsible: They are tasked with organizing awareness meetings with Guardian Ministers in every district to ensure implementation.
- Complaints Addressed: The GR cites repeated complaints and public grievances about the lack of Marathi usage in central institutions.
- Clear Accountability: Office heads who resist implementation must now explain their stand before authorities.
This decision gains importance amid ongoing agitations by Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), who have been demanding the mandatory use of Marathi in public services. MNS had even warned banks of severe consequences if Marathi was not respected. With local body elections approaching, the issue of Marathi pride is expected to be a key political plank.
Alongside this development, the Marathi Language Department has announced the launch of a new OTT platform called “Abhijat Marathi” to promote rich Marathi content. The logo for this platform was unveiled by Industry Minister Uday Samant.
This renewed push reflects the state government’s commitment to uphold Marathi identity and linguistic respect in public life. The administration urges all institutions and citizens in Maharashtra to uphold this language mandate sincerely.
“Using Marathi in Maharashtra is not just a matter of pride, it is a responsibility.” — Government of Maharashtra
