Farishtey Scheme Delhi - Road accident victims get free treatment

Last Updated: 23 Oct 2024

The chances of survival increase by 70-80% if an accident victim is taken to the hospital within Golden Hour(1st hour after the accident)[1]

-- Launched in Oct 2019 by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal[1:1]
-- Pilot project started in February 2017 was a huge success[1:2]

IMPACT: Total 23,000 lives were saved till 2023 by ensuring proper treatment to accident victims
2022-23: 3698 victims of road accident /acid attack availed
cashless treatment[2]

This scheme was halted for 10 months (Dec 2023 - Oct 2024) with bureaucratic hurdles (under BJP control)[3]

Features[4]

  • Free Treatment for Road Accident Victims: Delhi government incurs the expenditure for treating eligible road accident victims
  • Private Hospitals included: Cashless treatment at any registered public or private hospital across Delhi
  • Rs 2000 Incentive award and a certificate to those who takes victims to hospitals, Encouraging people to rescue from road accidents
  • No legal hassle: The person helping the victims is not liable to answer any question by the police

IMPACT[5]

Year Lives Saved
2017 - Oct 2019 (pilot project) 3000 lives saved
Till 2021 Total 10,000 lives saved
Till 2022 Total 13,000 lives saved
Till 2023 Total 23,000 lives saved

Obstacles and Government Action[6]

-- 40% decline b/w October 2022 & October 2023: Allegedly due to obstructions by LG office
-- While over 5,000 people received treat between September 2021 & September 2022
-- The beneficiaries went down to around 3,000 between October 2022 and Oct 2023

  • Sept 2022: Funds payment STOPPED to Private Hospitals, allegedly on behest of BJP/LG office to obstruct AAP scheme
  • Dec 2023: AAP Delhi Govt approached Supreme Court[5:1]
  • Jan 2024: Payment released for Private Hospitals, many of whom had stopped treatment and LG denying any role[7]

REFERENCES:

  1. https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/delhi-cm-launches-farishte-dilli-ke-1607108-2019-10-08 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/economic_survey_of_delhi_2023-24_english.pdf ↩︎

  3. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/aap-relaunches-delhi-govt-schemes-for-free-coaching-crash-victims-101729273584084.html ↩︎

  4. https://www.news18.com/news/india/farishte-dilli-ke-how-kejriwal-govt-scheme-is-saving-accident-victims-in-their-golden-hour-of-need-2371701.html ↩︎

  5. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/sc-notice-to-delhi-l-g-office-on-farishtey-dilli-ke-what-is-this-scheme-123120800434_1.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/farishtey-scheme-lags-govt-claims-funds-crunch-creating-a-roadblock/articleshow/105946886.cms ↩︎

  7. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/supreme-court-seeks-lg-s-stand-on-farishtey-scheme-after-plea-by-delhi-govt-101704476966062.html ↩︎