Raah-Veer Yojana: Citizens Who Save Lives in Road Accidents to Receive ₹25,000 and National Recognition
Raah-Veer Yojana: Citizens Who Save Lives in Road Accidents to Receive ₹25,000 and National Recognition
Government launches nationwide reward scheme to honour good Samaritans and promote timely help during the golden hour
In a significant step to encourage timely assistance for road accident victims, the Central Government has officially launched the Raah-Veer Yojana. Under this scheme, any citizen who helps save the life of a seriously injured person within the ‘golden hour’, the first hour after an accident will be awarded ₹25,000 and a certificate of appreciation.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has directed state governments to actively publicise the scheme through print, digital, and social media platforms to ensure widespread awareness. The goal is to motivate citizens to step forward during emergencies without fear of police harassment or legal complications.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that under the Raah-Veer Yojana, not only will the police refrain from troubling good Samaritans, but the individual will also be honoured and financially rewarded. The initiative, he stated, is part of a broader vision to strengthen India’s emergency response system and save more lives on the road.
The scheme outlines several key provisions:
- Each identified Raah-Veer will receive ₹25,000 and a certificate of honour.
- An individual can receive the annual reward a maximum of five times.
- In cases where multiple people save one victim, the reward will be divided equally.
- For multiple victims, the reward is limited to ₹25,000 per rescuer per incident.
- The top 10 Raah-Veers nationwide will be honoured annually with ₹1 lakh, a trophy, and a national certificate.
- The scheme applies only in cases of severe injury or death, such as brain or spinal trauma, major surgeries, hospitalization of at least three days, or fatality.
To ensure fair recognition, certificates will be issued by hospitals or police, and a district-level committee will verify the incident before recommending the award. The reward amount will be directly credited to the recipient’s bank account through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
The Motor Vehicles Act, 2019, offers legal protection to these good Samaritans, ensuring they are not subject to police or legal action without their consent. Furthermore, their personal information will be used strictly for the purpose of the scheme.
In addition to the Raah-Veer Yojana, the Central Government is preparing to introduce a revised scheme offering cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per accident per person, applicable across the country. The National Health Authority (NHA) will implement this programme in collaboration with hospitals, police, and state health agencies.
The announcement follows a successful pilot of the Raah-Veer scheme in Chandigarh on March 14, 2024, and marks a nationwide rollout aimed at transforming how India responds to road accident emergencies. By September 30 each year, state governments will submit nominations of the three best Raah-Veers, out of which 10 will be selected for national honours.
The government hopes this effort will not only save lives but also foster a spirit of civic responsibility and compassion among citizens.
