MUMBAI: Taking cognisance of repeated pleas of Maharashtra Government to give priority to Marathi in the Central establishments, the Union Home Ministry has directed its offices in this regard.

Directives were issued by the Department of Official Languages of the Centre early this month and sent to all the establishments in the state, an official from CMO said. Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Maken has written to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan about the directives, as he has been following the matter for long, the official said.

Chavan had written a letter to Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram in June requesting use of Marathi in the Centre's establishments, corporations and nationalised banks. With the directives, the establishments should make available forms, information, sign boards in Marathi, he said. The Department of Official Languages had first issued a directive to print money order forms in regional languages in 1968 and has amended the directives time to time. However, it was not implemented and the Chief Minister pointed to the same, the official said. Chavan had also announced in the State Legislature session held this month to ensure priority to Marathi in the Central establishments.