The Jharkhand government has announced an initiative to recognise and reward citizens who help road accident victims reach hospital within the crucial first hour — often referred to as the "golden hour."

Under the ‘Good Samaritan’ initiative, individuals who help critically injured accident victims and ensure they get prompt medical care will be awarded a ‘Raah-Veer’ certificate along with a cash prize of Rs 25,000.

The directive, issued by Transport Department, is part of a wider initiative to curb the high number of road accident deaths in the state.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau 2023 data, India saw about 1.6 lakh fatalities in 1.7 lakh road accidents last year, with Jharkhand in 2022 recorded around 5.18 thousand. Traffic discrepancies have been a major cause of these accidents.

The scheme was designed by the Union Ministry of Road and Highways, and it was being implemented through state govts and Union territories. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, defines a ‘good Samaritan' as a person who — in good faith and without expectation of reward — provides emergency medical or non-medical assistance at the scene of an accident or helps transport the victim to hospital.

This act of assistance qualifies an individual as a good Samaritan — a Raah-Veer. The survival of the victim depends on several factors beyond the helper's control, but those who act promptly and in good faith, even if the victim does not survive, deserve due recognition.

The scheme covers any major road accident involving a motor vehicle that results in severe injury, at least three days of hospitalisation, brain or spinal cord injury, or death during treatment.

Each Raah-Veer will receive Rs 25,000 for every incident. If one person helps multiple victims in a single accident, the reward remains Rs 25,000. If several people help save a single victim, the amount will be shared equally among them.

To ensure transparency, police will verify the details of each ‘Raah-Veer' with the hospital and issue an acknowledgement, including the rescuer's name, contact details, and information about the victim. This acknowledgment will be sent to a district-level appraisal committee led by the district magistrate and including police and transport department officials.