YSR Vahana Mitra: Launch Date, Benefits, Application

The Andhra Pradesh Government launched the ‘YSR Vahana Mitra’ on 4 October 2019. It is a social welfare scheme by the Transport, Roads, and Buildings Department of Andhra Pradesh. 

Under this scheme, the government provides financial assistance to self-owned taxis, maxi cabs or auto drivers for expenditure towards fitness certificates, insurance, repairs and such other requirements. This scheme aims to reduce the expenses of repairs and increase income by providing financial assistance to financially weak taxi, auto or maxi cab drivers. 

Please note that the last date for submitting the application form under the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme was 26 May 2020. 

Benefits of YSR Vahana Mitra

Under the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme, the Andhra Pradesh government provides financial assistance of Rs.10,000 per year to self-owned auto, taxi or maxi cab drivers to meet their expenditures related to cabs, autos or taxis. The amount will be transferred to the bank account of the owner of the cab, taxi or auto owners through a bank transfer or Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS).

Eligibility of YSR Vahana Mitra

• The applicant should own and drive an auto rickshaw, taxi or maxi cab.
• One family can apply for only one vehicle, i.e. auto, taxi, or maxi cab. 
• The applicant must have possession of the vehicle.
• The applicant must be a permanent resident of the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• The applicant must have a white ration card and Meeseva Integrated Certificate.
• The applicant must belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
• The applicant should have a bank account in his/her name. 

Exclusions of YSR Vahana Mitra

The following applicants are not eligible to receive benefits under the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme:

• The applicant is a beneficiary under any Government of Andhra Pradesh scheme for the occupational groups.
• The applicant or their family members are government employees or pensioners, except in the case of sanitary workers.
• The applicant or their family members are income tax payees.
• The monthly electricity consumption of the applicant’s family dwelling unit (rented or owned) is more than 300 units (calculated on six months average preceding the application date).
• The applicant possesses land exceeding 3 acres wet, 10 acres dry or 10 acres wet and dry land.
• In the municipal areas, the applicant’s family possesses the property of more than 1,000 square feet of commercial or residential built-up area.
• The applicant is a GSTN holder.
• The applicant has a three-wheeler or four-wheeler light goods vehicle.

Application Process of YSR Vahana Mitra

• Visit the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department official website.
• Click the ‘Online Application for Financial Assistance to Owner-cum-Driver w.r.t. Auto/Taxi/Cab vehicles’ link on the homepage. 
• On the new webpage, various options will be displayed on the screen.
• Click the ‘Online Applications Sections’.
• Fill out the application form, click the preview button and click ‘Submit’. 
• The application ID and other information will be displayed on the screen.

Applicants can apply for this scheme offline by obtaining the application form from the e-Seva centres, Community Service Centres (CSC) and Meeseva centres. Applicants can download the application from the Navasakam website. Applicants must fill the application, attach the required documents and submit it to the village or ward volunteers or the village secretaries before the last date.

Implementation of YSR Vahana Mitra

The applications submitted under the YSR Vahana Mitra are forwarded to the Welfare and Education Assistant (WEA) or the Ward Welfare and Development Secretary (WWDS). The volunteers, WEAs or WWDS will conduct field verification for each application, make relevant recommendations and forward it to the Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) or Municipal Commissioner (MC). 

The MPDOs or MCs will conduct field verification, review the application and make the relevant recommendations. Based on the MPDO or MC recommendations, the provisional eligible list and re-verification list are published in all secretariats. The final list of eligible beneficiaries are published in all secretariats, and the benefit amount will be transferred to the beneficiaries.

Documents Required for YSR Vahana Mitra

• White ration card of the applicant
• Aadhaar card of the applicant
• Caste certificate issued by competent authority in the case of ST/SC/BC or minority communities
• Vehicle registration certificate in the applicant’s name
• Driving licence in the applicant’s name 
• Bank account passbook 

Around 2,36,344 benefited from the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme during 2019-20, and around 2,73,985 beneficiaries received benefits under this scheme during 2020-21.