The Centre’s Good Samaritan scheme geared toward encouraging and felicitating these serving to highway accident victims has acquired a very good response from the states for greater than a month since its launch.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways introduced this scheme in order that taking a highway accident sufferer to a hospital isn’t solely hassle-free, but in addition encourages reward and recognition.
Historically, Indians have been reluctant to take victims to hospital after related authorized procedures and investigations.
To tackle this, the Center inserted part 134A within the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, which offers with “protection of good people”. It states {that a} Good Samaritan shall not be chargeable for any civil or felony motion for any damage or demise to the sufferer of an accident involving a motorized vehicle, the place such damage or demise could also be brought on by the negligent act of the Good Samaritan. or failure to behave whereas offering emergency medical or non-medical care or help, and many others.
However, regardless of the Center being prepared to present an preliminary grant of Rs 5 lakh for this, the states haven’t even opened financial institution accounts to obtain the cash. Sources stated the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which despatched a reminder final month, will ship one other reminder to the states to implement the scheme. The Center additionally needs to felicitate the highest ten good individuals in Delhi throughout Road Safety Month subsequent yr.
Under this scheme, any one who helps save a life by taking a highway accident sufferer to a hospital is entitled to a reward of Rs.5,000 per accident. The new legislation is that the “Good Samaritan” is free to not reveal his title to the hospital or to legislation enforcement officers; They may also select to not take part in any authorized course of associated to the accident.
“Any person who has saved the life of a victim of a fatal accident from a motor vehicle by providing immediate assistance and medical treatment in a hospital within golden hours of the accident, shall be eligible for the award. A person Good Samaritan can be awarded a maximum of five times in a year,” the ministry stated. The Golden Hour is an important one-hour interval from the accident.
To make this scheme common, the states must give ample publicity to it. This is for coming into on the district degree, the place the native administration has to maintain data of the great individuals and their particulars in a central web site on a month-to-month foundation.
A senior ministry official stated, “The issue of the scheme is not money, but awareness among people that taking an accident victim to a hospital is encouraged to save a life.” “We are in talks with the states, but nothing has happened so far.”
Every yr about 5 lakh highway accidents happen in India and 1.5 lakh deaths are brought on by them. According to a number of authorities assessments and unbiased research, numerous deaths happen as a result of victims don’t obtain medical assist inside the golden interval.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
