The state government of West Bengal launched a scheme called the Gatidhara scheme in the year 2014. It is a flagship government initiative that aims to encourage unemployed people to purchase and operate commercial vehicles like taxis, trucks, or other goods and passenger carriers as a means of earning a livelihood.
The scheme works in collaboration with the transport department of the state, which is responsible for the implementation of the scheme, and the labour department, which is responsible for providing the financial resources needed to purchase a vehicle. Help is given in the form of subsidies and affordable loans so that the beneficiaries can purchase vehicles without any extra monetary burden.
Read the article to learn more about the state government scheme, including information on the process of Gatidhara Scheme 2026 apply online or about filling out the Gatidhara scheme in Bengali application form PDF.
Overview
The table below summarises some key details about the state government scheme that one should know.
| Name of the scheme | Gatidhara Scheme |
|---|
| Launched by | State government of West Bengal |
| What is the Gatidhara scheme launch date? | August, 2014 |
| Mode of application | Offline |
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What Is The Gatidhara Scheme?
The state government of West Bengal launched the Gatidhara scheme, especially to create livelihood opportunities in the transport sector. The Gatidhara scheme launch date is August 2014. The state government scheme aims to help unemployed people earn an income by investing in commercial vehicles, like taxis, trucks, or other goods and passenger carriers.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries are given help in the form of subsidies and loans at low interest rates so that they can purchase small commercial vehicles, which not only helps them earn a steady income but also makes them feel empowered and independent.
Objectives Of The Gatidhara Scheme 2026
The government scheme comprises several objectives, some of which are written below in brief points:
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The main objective of this state government scheme is to help unemployed individuals generate self-employment opportunities in the transport sector.
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The scheme is specifically for unemployed people from marginalised communities like the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and from low-income groups. This restriction has been put so that only the people in need can avail the benefits of the scheme.
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The Gatidhara Scheme West Bengal, also aims to boost the local automobile and transport sector by encouraging people to invest in commercial vehicles. This would not only help the people in generating employment for themselves but also contribute to the growth of the transport department.
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Overall, the Gatidhara Yojana has a twofold objective: first, to help people travel from unemployment to self-employment, and second, to drive growth and development toward the transport department of the state.
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Benefits Of The Gatidhara Scheme 2026
The Gatidhara Scheme West Bengal comes along with a range of benefits for its beneficiaries. Some of the key benefits are mentioned below for one’s better understanding of the scheme:
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The primary benefit of the scheme is the financial assistance it provides in the form of subsidies, which can go up to 30% of the ex-showroom price at a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh for the purchase of a commercial vehicle. This subsidy makes it possible for the unemployed individuals to actually purchase a brand new commercial vehicle without any extra monetary burden.
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The Gatidhara Scheme West Bengal, also allows people to apply for loans from various banks, like nationalised banks, rural banks, cooperative banks, or other selected non-banking financial institutions. The loans are provided at lower interest rates so that the repayment can be easy and not hefty and overwhelming.
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Under the scheme, beneficiaries are also given priority while applying for transport permits, which are extremely crucial to start the operations legally in the nation.
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The state government scheme helps the residents of West Bengal become independent and self-reliant to lead better lives.
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What Is The Eligibility Criteria For The Gatidhara Scheme?
Interested individuals are required to fulfil all the eligibility criteria of the scheme to apply for it. The criteria are as follows for one’s better understanding:
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Applicants should be permanent residents of the state of West Bengal.
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Applicants’ names should be there in the Employment Bank of the Labour Department under the state government of West Bengal.
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The age of all the applicants should be between he age range of 25-45 years. Please note that a relaxation of 5 years is granted to individuals with SC/ST category certificates, and 3 years to those possessing an Other Backward Classes (OBC) category certificate.
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The family income of the applicant’s family should be less than Rs. 25,000 per month.
Also, please take note that only one member from a family can apply for the scheme, not multiple.
How To Apply For The Gatidhara Scheme?
Applicants can apply for the government scheme by physically visiting the concerned government offices. The process of application is mentioned below in a step-wise manner.
Please note that there is no Gatidhara scheme apply online process; only the registration in the employment bank can be done by following the Gatidhara online application 2025 mentioned below.
Registration Process
Step 1: Before starting the actual application process, all applicants are first required to register themselves in the Employment Bank of the Labour Department under the state government of West Bengal.
Step 2: To register yourself, please visit the official website of the Employment Bank of the Labour Department.
Step 3: Click on ‘New Enrolment Job Seeker’ and then fill in the required details. Recheck the filled information and click on ‘Submit’
Offline Process
Step 1: Applicants are required to get their application processed by the dealer of their choice. (Dealers are authorised facilitators of the Gatidhara Scheme West Bengal)
Step 2: Please select a financier for the loan required for purchasing the vehicle.
Step 3: Ensure that the vehicle is registered within one month of receipt of the offer letter for permit and subsidy under the state government scheme.
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What Are The Documents Required For The Gatidhara Scheme?
There are some documents that the applicants are required to attach while filling out the Gatidhara Application form PDF. The list of those documents is:
Conclusion
The Gatidhara Yojana is a transformative social welfare initiative by the state government of West Bengal, which primarily helps unemployed individuals create employment opportunities for themselves. The state government scheme provides help in various forms to the beneficiaries so that they can invest in small commercial vehicles and use them to earn a livelihood and lead fulfilled and adequate lives.
This scheme is not merely a scheme, but it is a helping hand that the government provides to the people in need of employment. So, if you are eligible for this scheme, we urge you to apply for it, or let us help you, and we will apply on your behalf.
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