Autorickshaw drivers to be rewarded with Rs 2,000 for helping accident victims

In view of the rising number of road accidents in the Capital, the Delhi government is all set to give a reward of Rs 2,000 to autorickshaw drivers who take road accident and trauma victims to hospital.

Making the announcement, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that autorickshaws are likely to reach victims before an ambulance. The government also plans to give auto drivers life-support training and ask them to carry first aid kits, a report said.

“The truth is that in Delhi, ambulances do not reach the victims in time. If we follow protocols and wait for ambulances, we will not be able to save lives. We are giving this economic incentive to Good Samaritans because they lose time from work. In most cases, their clothes are bloodied and we do not want them to suffer because of helping accident victims. We cannot put a price tag on a life saved. This is just a token, and it is optional —  it will be up to the people to take this money,” Jain said.

A formal notification in this regard will be issued by government soon.

“While the modalities are still being worked out, we are certain we want to give the money immediately. We want to give the auto drivers options — if they want they will get vouchers for fuel or cash or mobile payments,” the report quoted Health Secretary Tarun Seem as saying.

A National Crimes Records Bureau report says 4,50,898 road accidents resulted in 1,41,526 deaths in 2014. The maximum fatalities were reported on Delhi’s roads with 2,199 deaths during the year. 

The Supreme Court has recently approved the Centre’s plea about not compelling the person to become a witness in a road accident case, when that person has taken the injured road accident victim to the hospital. 

The Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice V Gopala Gowda also approved the safety and security of the witness in the road accident cases and stated that the police will no longer harass them.