‘Good Samaritan’ scheme: 3 to be honoured for helping rescue accident victims

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched the ‘Good Samaritan’ scheme to encourage citizens to assist road accident victims. Under this initiative, people who help save the lives of accident victims by transporting them to a hospital during the critical 'golden hour' (the first hour following an accident) will receive a certificate and a cash award of Rs 5,000.

Presiding over a review meeting on road safety, Additional Deputy Commissioner Vinay Kumar announced that three individuals from Kangra district—Sardar Nikka Singh from Samked, Subhash Chand from Dhameta, and Suresh Kumar from Aima—have been selected for this award.

Kumar emphasised that the scheme aims to reduce road accident fatalities by motivating citizens to help. He added that individuals can be honoured up to five times per year under the scheme, with an additional national-level recognition offering Rs 1 lakh to the top 10 helpers annually.

The local police will verify the Good Samaritan’s efforts with hospital authorities and submit the details to the district-level evaluation committee, headed by the District Magistrate, for final award approval.