New Delhi: Delhi govt has decided to implement central govt's ‘Rah-Veer' scheme, offering a cash reward of Rs 25,000 to a good Samaritan for assisting seriously injured road accident victims to reach hospital during the critical "golden hour", chief minister Rekha Gupta announced on Monday.
Gupta said the initiative, introduced by the Union road transport and highways ministry, aimed to encourage people to come forward and help accident victims without fear of legal complications. She said the scheme combined financial incentives with legal protection to promote timely medical intervention and reduce fatalities caused by road accidents.
"The first hour after a serious accident is crucial. Immediate medical attention can mean the difference between life and death," CM said, adding that in a densely populated metropolis like Delhi, where thousands of vehicles ply on the roads daily, ensuring swift assistance is both a challenge and a necessity.
Under the scheme, the reward amount will remain capped at Rs 25,000 even if multiple victims are rescued in a single accident. Ten people identified across the nation annually as the most outstanding ‘Rah-Veers' will receive an award of Rs 1 lakh each, along with a certificate of appreciation.
CM said many bystanders hesitated to help accident victims due to fear of police questioning or legal entanglements. She clarified that the scheme aligned with Good Samaritan Rules notified under Section 134A of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, providing legal protection to people who voluntarily assist injured or distressed persons.
Gupta said detailed implementation guidelines were issued to states and Union territories by Centre, and Delhi would adopt the framework accordingly. An evaluation committee will be constituted in each district, comprising the district magistrate, a senior police officer, the chief medical officer and the regional transport officer, to verify and approve reward claims. The amount will be transferred directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts. A separate bank account will be maintained for the scheme and all procedures will be recorded on a digital platform. The ministry will also provide an initial grant to support implementation.
In 2018, AAP govt had launched ‘Farishtey Dilli Ke' that provided up to Rs 1.5 lakh for the cashless treatment of road accident victims along with Rs 2,000 as a reward for good Samaritans. The scheme had saved over 10,000 lives and facilitated treatment of approximately 23,000 victims, AAP govt had claimed. The scheme became dysfunctional due to a freeze on funds and pending payments to private hospitals for a long period.
While AAP then said opposition BJP had tried to halt the scheme through LG's office, BJP alleged that all schemes implemented by Arvind Kejriwal govt had turned out to be avenues for scams and Farishtey was one of them.
Abhinav Rajput is a Special Correspondent at The Times of India, ...
Read MoreAbhinav Rajput is a Special Correspondent at The Times of India, with extensive experience reporting on Delhi’s political and policy landscape. Covering the Delhi government, BJP, and AAP, he brings clarity and depth to the fast-moving world of capital politics. Whether decoding legislative moves, nuances of governance, policy decisions that shape Delhi, or capturing behind-the-scenes political shifts, he combines sharp reporting with context-driven storytelling that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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