Bhubaneswar- The Odisha government is set to roll out a pathbreaking initiative called ‘Rah-Veer’, designed to honour and reward Good Samaritans who act swiftly to save lives during road accidents. Citizens who transport injured persons to hospitals within the crucial “golden hour” — the first hour after an accident — will now receive a monetary reward of Rs25,000, a sharp rise from the earlier incentive of Rs2,000.
This people-centric move is part of Odisha’s broader efforts to reduce road accident fatalities, in line with directives from the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety. Each of the state’s 30 districts already has a District Road Safety Committee (DRSC), and under this new scheme, a dedicated sub-committee will be formed in every district to select deserving ‘Rah-Veers’.
The sub-committee, to be chaired by the district collector, will include key officials such as the superintendent of police (SP), chief district medical officer (CDMO), and regional transport officer (RTO), who will serve as the convener. These panels will meet monthly to evaluate nominations based on firsthand reports from police and hospitals, ensuring transparency and credibility in the selection process.
Selected Rah-Veers will have their names published on the government’s e-DAR (electronic Detailed Accident Report) portal, and their reward amount will be directly transferred to their bank accounts within a week of recognition.
To ensure the scheme reaches every corner of the state, all district administrations have been directed to launch public awareness campaigns. These campaigns will encourage citizens to act without fear and emphasize the value of immediate response in saving lives.
The Rah-Veer initiative not only recognizes the courage and compassion of ordinary citizens but also marks a significant shift in how Odisha is addressing road safety — by turning bystanders into lifesavers.
