Marathi language groups and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have opposed a Maharashtra government notification announcing Hindi examinations for its employees.
According to the notification, a Hindi examination will be held for gazetted officers and non-gazetted employees of the State government on June 28 at four centres in Maharashtra. Language groups have threatened protests and the burning of the notification if it is not withdrawn within a fortnight.
The government has said that the examinations are conducted routinely every year and are mandatory only for employees who did not study Hindi in Class X. Salary increments of employees will be withheld if they fail to clear the examination, which must be passed within three years of joining service.
“This is a part of the three language policy accepted by the state many years ago. These exams are being conducted since 1951, since even before the formation of the state. They are held twice a year, one in June and once in December. It is mandatory for those employees who did not study Hindi till Grade X as their third language. It is not mandatory for all employees. Typically, 2,000 to 2,500 government employees of all ranks give this exam annually. And the passing percentage is very high,” Arun Gite, Director of Languages, told The Hindu.
