The Union ministry for road transport and highways has recently proposed a scheme for eight-fold increase in the compensation amount for the families of hit-and-run road accident victims.
The ministry has notified a draft scheme, namely, Scheme for Compensation of Hit and Run Accident Victims, which has raised the compensation from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000 for grievous injuries and from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2,00,000 for death where the vehicle responsible for a crash can’t be traced.
Moreover, for anyone getting killed or left seriously injured in road crashes where the vehicle and its owner can be traced, the ministry has proposed to increase the compensation - Rs 5 lakh for death and Rs 2.5 for in case of grievous hurt.
This scheme will replace the earlier Solatium Scheme, 1989. The ministry has sought comments from stakeholders in 30 days.
In a written reply to a question from BJP lawmaker Sushil Kumar Modi in the Parliament last week, Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari had said his ministry will issue the draft rules for quick compensation to such victims.
The central government will also establish a Motor Vehicles Accident Fund that will be used for providing compensation in case of hit and run accidents and treatment of the victims, Since in these cases the offender cannot be caught and made to pay the compensation.
The contribution to the fund will come from the toll collected by the Central government for using national highways, budgetary grant and fines levied on road contractors, consultants or concessionaires for faulty road design, construction and maintenance.
According to the latest official data of 2019, at least 29,354 persons were killed and 67,751 persons were left injured in hit and run cases in the country.
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