The Government of India is introducing a scheme to provide free, cashless treatment for road accident victims across the country.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the details of this initiative.
Under the scheme, if the police are informed within 24 hours of an accident, victims can receive free treatment for up to seven days.
The government will cover medical expenses up to ₹1.5 lakh. This scheme is set to be implemented nationwide starting in March.
Rewards for Good Samaritans
To encourage bystanders to help accident victims, those who assist and save lives will be rewarded with ₹5,000. The government is also considering increasing this reward amount.
Alarming Road Accident Statistics
Road safety is a key concern for the government. In 2024, approximately 1.8 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents.
Of these, 30,000 fatalities were due to not wearing helmets, and 66% of those who died were aged between 18 and 34 years.
Tragically, 10,000 children lost their lives due to unsafe school entry and exit points.
Government Plans to Enhance Road Safety
The government is taking several measures to improve road safety. To address the shortage of 22 lakh drivers, Driver Training Institutes (DTIs) will be established across the country.
Safety regulations for e-rickshaws are being developed, and new technologies such as the Smart Driver Assessment System (ADAS) for trucks, retro-reflective tape on vehicles,
and Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) are being introduced to protect women and children.
Nationwide Scheme Implementation
The National Health Authority (NHA) will implement this scheme in coordination with the police, hospitals, and state health agencies.
It will operate through an IT platform that integrates the e-Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) application with NHA’s transaction management system.
The initiative started as a pilot project in Chandigarh on March 14, 2024, and will now expand to other states. The primary aim is to ensure immediate medical care for road accident victims.
