Govt. to launch ‘Good Samaritan Scheme’

The Delhi government will soon come up with a ‘Good Samaritan Scheme’ under which people will be rewarded for taking road accident victims to hospital. The move comes after a security guard died, Matibul, on the road after being hit by a tempo in West Delhi on Wednesday morning.

Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said the government has prepared a draft of the scheme under which an incentive will be announced for those who offer immediate help to road accident victims.

“It is very unfortunate that no one came to assist him (Matibul). The government has prepared an incentive scheme under which people, including drivers of taxis and autos, taking road accident victims to hospital will be rewarded,” the Minister said. The draft will be tabled before the Cabinet by the end of this month and then it will be sent to Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung for his approval. The government will also provide legal aid to such people in case they face any trouble or are “harassed” by the police.

“There is also a Supreme Court directive that such people who help accident victims cannot be harassed or questioned. I appeal to people to help them as it is a pious task to save someone’s life,” he said.

Long-pending demand

Activists for long have been advocating for more awareness and simpler procedures when rushing an accident victim to a hospital but even after the Supreme Court order nothing much has changed.

Saji Cherian, director, operations, SaveLIFE Foundation, which had actively campaigned for protection of Good Samaritans, said, “There is need to make people aware and the government needs to make more efforts.”