Despite Rising Road Fatalities, Only 813 Good Samaritans Rewarded In 5 Yrs, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Rah-Veer scheme, launched in October 2021 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), has rewarded only 813 Good Samaritans in India over five years (2021-22 to 2025-26).
• The scheme offers a reward of ₹25,000 to individuals who help road accident victims reach a hospital within the crucial 'golden hour'.
• Participation in the scheme remains low, with only 8 states and 2 Union Territories actively awarding Good Samaritans.
• Rajasthan recorded the highest number of awardees with 224, followed by Bihar (95) and Madhya Pradesh (54).
• The MoRTH extended the scheme for another five years (2026-27 to 2030-31) and allocated an initial grant of ₹25 lakh to states for reward disbursement.

Detailed Insights:

• Public reluctance to assist accident victims is largely due to fears of police involvement, extensive paperwork, and mandatory follow-ups.
• A 2021 NITI Aayog-AIIMS Emergency and Injury Care Report highlights that delays in emergency care contribute to at least 30% of all trauma-related deaths in India.
• The Supreme Court, in March 2016, issued an order recognizing the rights of Good Samaritans and mandated states to establish grievance redressal systems.
• The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, introduced Section 134A, which legally protects Good Samaritans from civil or criminal liability for actions taken in good faith during emergency assistance.
• The reward amount under the Rah-Veer scheme was significantly increased from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 to enhance public motivation for helping accident victims.
• Despite legal protections and Supreme Court directives, only a limited number of states have effectively implemented grievance redressal mechanisms for Good Samaritans.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Rah-Veer scheme: A reward program by MoRTH designed to encourage citizens to provide timely assistance to road accident victims.
• Golden Hour: The critical first 60 minutes following a traumatic injury, during which immediate medical intervention significantly improves survival chances.
• Good Samaritan Law: Legal provisions, such as those under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, that protect individuals who voluntarily aid accident victims from legal repercussions.
• NITI Aayog: The National Institution for Transforming India, a premier policy think tank of the Government of India providing strategic and policy guidance.
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH): The central government body responsible for formulating and administering policies related to road transport, national highways, and road safety in India.