The Rah-Veer Scheme, introduced by the Government of India, is a groundbreaking effort to encourage citizens to act swiftly in aiding road accident victims during the critical “Golden Hour”
Agartala, May 3, 2025 – In a significant push toward enhancing road safety and public welfare, Tripura Transport Minister, Sushanta Chowdhury, led a high-level review meeting on Friday at the State Guest House in Agartala.
The meeting, attended by the Secretary of the Transport Department and senior officials, focused on evaluating ongoing developmental projects while spotlighting the transformative Rah-Veer Scheme (Good Samaritan initiative), a nationwide initiative launched on April 21, 2025, to save lives during road accidents.
The Rah-Veer Scheme : Saving Lives in the Golden Hour
The Rah-Veer Scheme, introduced by the Government of India, is a groundbreaking effort to encourage citizens to act swiftly in aiding road accident victims during the critical “Golden Hour”—the first hour post-accident when timely medical intervention can be the difference between life and death.
Sushanta Chowdhury emphasized the scheme’s importance, stating, “Saving lives is a collective responsibility. The Scheme fosters a culture of compassion and prompt action across Tripura, ensuring no life is lost due to hesitation or fear.”
Under this initiative, any individual who transports an accident victim to a hospital within the Golden Hour and provides initial assistance is eligible for a Rs 25,000 cash reward and a certificate of recognition from the government.
The scheme, active until March 31, 2026, also allows individuals to be honored up to five times annually for their lifesaving efforts.
Additionally, ten exemplary Rah-Veers will be selected nationwide each year and awarded Rs 1 lakh for their outstanding contributions.
Reward:
1. Individuals who help transport seriously injured accident victims to the hospital within the Golden Hour will receive a one-time reward of ₹25,000 and a certificate from the government.
2. If a Rah-Veer helps more than one seriously injured person and ensures medical care, they will be awarded ₹25,000 for each case.
3. If multiple Rah-Veers help a single accident victim receive treatment and save their life, the ₹25,000 reward will be equally divided among all helpers.
4. If multiple Rah-Veers or Good Samaritans assist multiple accident victims, each of them will receive ₹25,000.
5. Every award-winning Rah-Veer will receive a certificate along with the monetary reward.
6. Additionally, 10 Rah-Veers will be selected annually at the national level and awarded ₹1 lakh each.
7. A Rah-Veer may receive rewards up to 5 times in a year.
Eliminating Barriers to Compassion
A key feature of the Scheme is its focus on removing legal fears that often deter bystanders from assisting accident victims. By offering financial incentives and official recognition, the government aims to encourage proactive public participation.
The scheme applies to cases involving serious injuries, such as those requiring major surgery, hospitalization for over three days, head or spinal injuries, or instances where the victim succumbs during treatment.
Transparent Reward Process
To ensure transparency, the Rah-Veer Scheme follows a structured reward distribution process. If a Rah-Veer informs the police first, the incident is verified by a medical professional and officially recorded.
Alternatively, if the victim is directly transported to a hospital, the hospital notifies the police, triggering the same validation process.
Acknowledgments are then forwarded to the District Evaluation Committee, comprising the District Magistrate, District Police Chief, Chief Medical Officer, and Transport Department representatives.
Approved cases are sent to the Transport Commissioner, and payments are processed online via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), with reimbursements managed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
A State-Level Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Home Department and including officials from the Health, Police, and Transport departments, oversees the scheme’s implementation to ensure efficiency and accountability.
A Call to Action: “Your Brave Decision Can Save a Future”
Promoting the scheme’s powerful slogan—“Your one phone call or brave decision can save someone’s entire future”— the Minister urged Tripura’s citizens to pledge their commitment to becoming Rah-Veers.
The Transport Department is rolling out extensive awareness campaigns, community engagement programs, and collaborations with hospitals and law enforcement to ensure the scheme’s message reaches every corner of the state.
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Tripura’s Broader Vision for Road Safety
The Rah-Veer Scheme aligns with Tripura’s broader developmental goals under the Transport Department, which include upgrading infrastructure, improving public transport, and prioritizing road safety.
By integrating human-centric initiatives like Rah-Veer into its agenda, the state is taking meaningful steps toward building a compassionate and responsive society.
Why the Rah-Veer Scheme Matters
According to experts, road accidents remain a pressing concern across India, with thousands of lives lost annually due to delayed medical attention. The Rah-Veer Scheme addresses this challenge by empowering citizens to act as first responders, bridging the gap between an accident and professional medical care.
In Tripura, where community spirit runs deep, this initiative has the potential to create a ripple effect, inspiring other states to follow suit.
A Step Toward a Safer, Kinder Tripura
As Tripura advances its developmental agenda, the Rah-Veer Scheme stands out as a beacon of hope and humanity, senior journalists opined.
By rewarding courage and fostering a culture of care, the state is not only saving lives but also setting a national example of how collective action can transform communities.
