Reward for people for taking road accident victims to hospital

An e-rickshaw driver bled to death from his injuries after being hit by a speeding tempo as no one came to his rescue

As the apathy of people to road accident victims was exposed again after a security guard bled to death in west Delhi, the city government today said it will soon announce 'Good Samaritan Scheme' under which people will be rewarded for taking victims to hospital and provided legal aid in case they face any problem.

Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain 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. The draft will be tabled before the Cabinet by the end of this month and before being sent to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for his approval.

Under the scheme, the city's taxi and auto rickshaws drivers will also be rewarded if they take road accident victims to hospital.

The government will provide legal aid to people who help such victims if they face any trouble or are "harassed" by police, a senior government official said.

The move comes a day after a 35-year-old security guard died on road after being hit by a speeding delivery van in West Delhi's Subhash Nagar area, with no passerby coming to his help for an hour. TV footage showed a rickshaw puller picking up the victim's mobile phone lying on the road and pocketing it nonchalantly.

The whole incident was captured on a CCTV camera installed near Meraj cinema where the victim Matibul was hit by a delivery van in the wee hours.

"It is very unfortunate that no one come to assist him. 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, who also hold the health portfolio, said.

He also said a Cabinet note has been prepared in this regard.

Jain said that usually people don't take road accident victims to nearest hospital fearing that they may be questioned 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.

According to police, Matibul was walking back to his home near Tihar village when he was hit by the van around 3 AM yesterday. The entire incident as well as the injured Matibul lying on the road and people passing by was recorded by the CCTV camera.

The victim was a native of West Bengal and lived in a rented accommodation near Tihar village.

Police said that they received information about a body lying on the road in Subhash Nagar at 7 AM, following which a team was rushed to the spot which took it for autopsy.