Patna: The government on Saturday sanctioned funds worth Rs 425 crore for Mukhyamantri Gram Parivahan Yojana for rural transportation and connectivity that chief minister Nitish Kumar had announced on Independence Day this year.

Under it, youth belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) will be provided grants of up to 50 per cent or Rs 1 lakh to buy automobiles with a seating capacity of four to 10.

"The government today (Saturday) sanctioned the funds for the ambitious Mukhyamantri Gram Parivahan Yojana to provide better and increased connectivity between panchayats and block headquarters. The objective of the scheme is to ensure better transport facility apart from creating job opportunities for unemployed people belonging to SC/ST and EBC," transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal told The Telegraph.

People can start applying for the scheme from September 27.

Before the final list of beneficiaries based on the selection is announced on December 1, several merit lists will be checked at the block-level and the sub-division-level.

The scheme has certain conditions by which only people of SC/ST/EBC can apply, the minimum age should be 21 years and the beneficiary should not be a government employee. The applicant must possess light motor vehicle driving licence but should not have any other commercial vehicle.

Agarwal added: "There will be five vehicles in each of the 8,400 panchayats and a total of 42,000 vehicles can be bought with the funds allotted. One has to submit a few certificates such as birth certificate, residential, highest educational qualification, age proof and driving licence. One can apply online only on its official website, www.transport.bih.nic.in."

After purchase of the vehicles, the subsidy will be directly transferred to the applicant's account within seven days.