Chennai: In a bid to make Tamilnadu an accident free State and reduce fatalities in road accidents, Chief Minister M K Stalin recently launched ‘Innuyir Kaappom Scheme’ to save accident victims at 609 hospitals across the State.
Perhaps, this was for the first time in India, such a scheme to save the precious lives of road accident victims during the golden hour, was launched in the State.
Stalin launched the Innuyir Kaappom–Nammai Kaakkum-48 scheme (Saving precious lives, Saving our lives in 48 hours) at a private medical college and hospital in Melmaruvathur where he met a road accident victim and directed the authorities to provide treatment under this scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the State government will bear the entire hospital expenses of the injured road accident victims during the first 48 hours, considered as the golden hour.
The scheme will offer 81 recognised life saving procedures upto Rs one lakh to those injured in road accidents occurring in Tamilnadu limits–whether they are from TN or from other States or from abroad–in the first 48 hours in 609 hospitals–201 government and 408 private hospitals under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS).
If the road accident victims continued to remain unstable even after 48 hours and if they require further treatment, those covered under the CMCHIS could get treatment at the same hospital.
If the patient was not covered under the CMCHIS, he/she could continue to receive treatment free of cost by shifting them to government hospitals after stabilisation.
And for those who prefer treatment under private insurance scheme or ready to spend for treatment, they could continue to get treated at the same hospital or any hospital of their choice.
Pointing out that the price of two-wheelers has become on par with cars or even higher than it, Stalin said overspeeding was the main reason for the accidents and appealed to the people to reduce the speed on roads and show that speed in their work, acts and deeds.
He also advised the parents to be cautious while purchasing two-wheelers to their children as costly and high-speed vehicles should be handled only by those who have expertise in it.
Expressing concern that the number of road accidents in the State was higher, he told the youth ‘Don’t show your speed on roads and highways’.
He also advised those riding two-wheelers and cars to wear helmets and seat belts compulsorily.
Appealing to the people to follow road safety norms and traffic rules, he said some people were thinking it as an insult in stopping at traffic signals.
‘It is not an insult…it shows the social responsibility of the individual and their good quality’, he added.
Stalin said the main objective of his government was to reduce road mishaps and fatalities and make Tamilnadu an accident free State.