Govt unveils Rah-Veer Scheme: Here is how to help road accident victims without fear

Ziraat Times Team Report

New Delhi, January 4: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has reiterated that citizens who help road accident victims during emergencies are fully protected under the law, as it called for greater public participation in saving lives during the critical “Golden Hour” following accidents.

Under the Good Samaritan Rules, notified in 2020 under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, individuals who come forward to assist injured persons are shielded from legal, police, and hospital-related harassment. Such helpers are officially recognised as “Rah-Veers”.

According to the Ministry, the Golden Hour — the first hour after a serious injury — is the most crucial window for medical intervention. Timely assistance during this period can significantly reduce fatalities, long-term disabilities, and trauma. The government stressed that no medical training or special equipment is required to be a Rah-Veer, only the willingness to act.

Being a Good Samaritan: What You Should Know – Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s: Your Rights and Responsibilities

• Do help without fear: You are legally protected from civil or criminal liability when acting in good faith.

• Do know you can stay anonymous: You are not required to share personal details unless you choose to be a witness.

• Do allow only one police statement: If you volunteer as a witness, you may be examined once at a time and place convenient to you.

• Do request a hospital acknowledgement: You are entitled to a simple confirmation that you brought the victim for treatment.

Don’ts: Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

• Don’t hesitate because of legal concerns: The system is designed to protect Rah-Veers.

• Don’t feel obligated to remain at the hospital: Once the patient is admitted, you are free to leave.

• Don’t pay for treatment: Hospitals cannot demand payment from you for emergency care.

• Don’t feel forced to file an FIR or give evidence: Becoming a witness is your personal choice.

• Don’t reveal personal details if you prefer anonymity: It is your right.

• Don’t allow detention by authorities: It is not permitted.

Officials clarified that a Good Samaritan cannot be compelled to disclose personal details, detained by authorities, or forced into legal proceedings. Even if a Rah-Veer voluntarily agrees to act as a witness, they can only be examined once, at a time and place convenient to them. Hospitals are required to provide immediate emergency care to accident victims and cannot demand payment from the person who brings the injured individual for treatment.

The Ministry also addressed common misconceptions that discourage bystanders from helping. Citizens are not obligated to remain at hospitals after admitting the victim, file an FIR, or bear any treatment costs. The right to remain anonymous is fully protected under the rules.

Highlighting the gravity of road safety challenges, the Ministry noted that India continues to record one of the highest numbers of road accident deaths globally. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has previously pointed out that road accidents impose an economic burden of nearly 3 per cent of the country’s GDP, as estimated in an IIT Delhi report.

Many accident-related deaths, officials said, occur not due to lack of medical facilities but because help does not arrive in time, often due to bystanders’ fear of legal or procedural complications. The Good Samaritan framework is intended to remove this fear and encourage immediate assistance.

To further motivate citizens, the government has introduced the Rah-Veer (Good Samaritan) Scheme, which provides financial recognition to those who help accident victims reach medical facilities within the Golden Hour. Eligible individuals receive a reward of ₹25,000 along with a Certificate of Appreciation, with recognition available up to five times a year for repeated acts of assistance.

The Ministry described Rah-Veer as more than a government scheme, calling it a nationwide movement to promote empathy, courage, and shared responsibility on the roads. Citizens were urged to remember that in the moments following an accident, timely help from a passer-by can mean the difference between life and death.

“Helping an accident victim is not a risk, but a protected and honoured act,” the Ministry said, appealing to people to act without hesitation and contribute to making Indian roads safer for all.