To promote life-saving acts and enhance road safety awareness, the Odisha government is set to roll out its newly framed ‘Rah-Veer’ scheme, offering a Rs 25,000 reward to Good Samaritans who assist road accident victims within the critical golden hour.
The Transport Department, under the leadership of Principal Secretary Usha Padhee, has directed all district collectors to form appraisal sub-committees under existing District Road Safety Committees (DRSC) for streamlined implementation. These sub-committees, led by the collector and comprising the district SP, CDMO, and RTO, will assess monthly reports from police and hospitals to identify and approve Rah-Veers.
Currently, Good Samaritans receive Rs 2,000 for their efforts. The new incentive is a leap toward recognizing and encouraging timely civic intervention during accidents—a factor often determining life or death for victims.
The scheme’s operational framework includes uploading shortlisted Rah-Veers’ details to the national e-DAR (e-Detailed Accident Report) platform, with awards directly credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts within seven days. District administrations have been asked to intensify awareness campaigns to ensure public engagement.
By significantly amplifying the reward and systemizing its appraisal, the government aims to build a compassionate and responsive road safety ecosystem.
