The Government of India is introducing a new scheme to provide cashless treatment for road accident victims across the country.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari shared details about this initiative.
Under this scheme, if the police are informed within 24 hours of the accident, the victim will receive free treatment for up to 7 days.
Free Treatment and Rewards for Helpers
This cashless treatment scheme will be launched nationwide in March.
If someone meets with an accident anywhere in India, they will receive free medical care without paying any money.
The government will cover the treatment cost for 7 days, with a maximum limit of ₹1.5 lakh per person.
Additionally, people who help accident victims and save lives will be rewarded. As per the current information, a reward of ₹5,000 will be given to good samaritans.
The government is also considering increasing the reward amount in the future.
High Number of Youth in Road Accidents
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the alarming number of fatal road accidents in the country.
In 2024 alone, 1.8 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents, with 30,000 deaths due to not wearing helmets.
Shockingly, 66% of the victims were between the ages of 18 and 34. Additionally, 10,000 children died due to unsafe entry and exit points near schools and colleges.
Gadkari also spoke about the shortage of 22 lakh drivers in India. To address this, the government plans to set up Driver Training Institutes (DTIs). Other safety measures include:
1) Implementing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in trucks
2) Using retro-reflective tape on vehicles
3) Installing Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) for women and children’s safety
Implementation and Future Plans
The National Health Authority (NHA) will oversee the implementation of this scheme, working closely with the police, hospitals, and state health agencies.
An IT-based platform will manage the process, linking the e-Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) system of the Ministry of Road Transport with the National Health Authority’s transaction system.
This scheme was first tested as a pilot project in Chandigarh on March 14, 2024, and later expanded to six other states.
The main goal is to ensure immediate medical attention to accident victims and save lives.
