Rah-Veer Scheme

Prelims: Public policy| Government Initiatives | Current events of national and international importance.

Why in news?

Recently Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the implementation of Rah-Veer Scheme.

• Rah-Veer scheme – It is a formal reward-based initiative was launched in April 2025 by the Union Government.
• It is the erstwhile Scheme for grant of Award to the Good Samaritan who has saved life of a victim of a fatal.
• Launched by – Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India
• Objective – To encourage fellow citizens to assist road accident victims within the “Golden Hour” and save lives.

The "golden hour" in the context of accidents refers to the critical one-hour period immediately following a traumatic injury when prompt medical attention is most crucial for improving a patient's chances of survival and reducing the severity of injuries

Key Provisions:

• Reward – Rs 25,000 per case (earlier Rs 5,000)
• Eligibility – Any citizen who takes a road accident victim to a hospital within the golden hour and helps save a life.
• Process:
  • Hospital notifies police.
  • Police inform the District Collector.
  • Verified individual gets reward via direct bank transfer from the Transport Department.
• It emphasizes on Recognition through certificates and cash awards.
• It boosts morale and encouraging others to assist in emergencies.

As per Ministry of Road, transport and Highways report India reported 1.68 lakh deaths in 2022 and the major cause of the death is delay in getting medical help during Golden hour.

• Legal Backing – The scheme is legally backed to provide legal protection to individuals who assist accident victims and prevents harassment by police or legal authorities.
  • Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
  • Good Samaritan Rules notified on 29 September 2020

Significance

• Golden Hour Response – Reduces fatality risk drastically. WHO says 50% of accident deaths occur within first hour.
• Citizen Participation – Encourages public to become active first responders.
• Legal Clarity – Reduces fear of harassment; encourages help without legal repercussions.
• Support to Emergency Services – Bridges gap until ambulances arrive.
• Public Awareness – Promotes road safety culture and human responsibility.

Reference

Times of India| Rah-Veer Scheme