3,000 lives saved under Good Samaritan Policy: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said over 3,000 lives were saved during the pilot of the Good Samaritan Policy under "Farishte Dilli Ke", an initiative of the Delhi government to bear the cost of treatment for all road accident victims regardless of how expensive the treatment or hospital is and to felicitate good samaritans who take accident victims to hospitals. He also launched the scheme formally at Maulana Azad Medical College here.

"The scheme was launched 1.5 years ago on a pilot basis. We wanted to see the issues related to the scheme before we launched it in full. In the last 1.5 years, over 3,000 people were saved under the scheme. I am happy," Kejriwal said.

He said he and his party are not in power for politics, "we are extending the social service we were doing before we came to power".

He said the first one hour after an accident called the golden hour is very critical. "The sooner the patient gets medical help, the chances of his survival are more."

"We read in the media that Nirbhaya was lying on the road for one hour and no one came to her help. If people are admitted on time, their lives can be saved, " Kejriwal said.

He said those who help the accident victims are no less than a 'farishta' (angel).

"I want every citizen of Delhi to become an angel. You should pledge to help accident victims, burn victims and acid attack victims and take them to hospitals," he said, urging auto and taxi drivers to be more alert and active in helping out as they are on the roads most of the time.

He said before the scheme, people were scared to help the victim. Kejriwal assured the 'angels' that they don't have to pay for any treatment and neither will Samaritans be harassed by the Police afterwards the two main reasons people are scared to extend help to the victims.

"The victims should be taken to the nearest hospital, even if it was a private one. And police will not harass anyone," he said.

During the event, Kejriwal also presented certificates to recognise the 'Farishtey Dilli Ke'.

Under the Good Samaritan scheme, any citizen who takes accident victims to hospitals is given Rs 2,000 as a goodwill gesture.

Kejriwal said the life of every citizen is precious. "There is no value for anyone's life, we will not let any road accident victim in Delhi die due to lack of money. The one who takes the victim to the hospital will be called an 'Angel'," he said.

( With inputs from IANS )