Odisha Government Directs Police Vigilance Against PM RAHAT Scheme Fraud
The Odisha state government has issued a crucial directive to police authorities across the state, mandating heightened vigilance against potential fraudulent activities in the implementation of the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) scheme. This significant initiative guarantees every road accident victim, regardless of their social or economic category, access to cashless medical treatment worth up to Rs 1.5 lakh for a period of seven days following the accident.
Crime Branch Circular Outlines Strict Monitoring Protocols
In a comprehensive circular dated April 7, the state crime branch specifically instructed Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to maintain close surveillance over all claims filed under the scheme. The directive emphasizes that timely police action through the government's electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) database serves the dual purpose of facilitating prompt treatment for genuine victims while simultaneously curbing fraudulent practices.
The circular explicitly states: "Officers are required to generate unique victim identification numbers and meticulously verify hospital treatment requests by approving, rejecting, or transferring them through the dedicated e-DAR platform."
Establishment of Fraud Control Focal Points
To strengthen oversight mechanisms, the crime branch has mandated that each SP designate a district-level PM RAHAT fraud control focal point. These designated officers will be responsible for reviewing suspicious cases that raise red flags and coordinating directly with hospitals to ensure proper verification procedures are followed.
Identification of Fraud Red Flags
The crime branch has provided police authorities with a detailed list of potential fraud indicators that warrant immediate investigation:
- Staged or completely fabricated accident scenarios
- Inconsistent details regarding accident timing and location
- Repeated hospital admissions of the same individual under the scheme
- Multiple victims presenting identical accident accounts without proper corroboration
- Delayed reporting of accidents beyond reasonable timeframes
- Cross-district claims with weak jurisdictional justification
- Unusual clusters of high-value treatment cases originating from specific police stations
The order further clarifies: "Any suspected organized fraud must be reported promptly to the crime branch without causing unnecessary delays in genuine victim care. Responses on the e-DAR platform should be provided within stipulated timelines based on prima facie assessment, with detailed investigations to follow as required."
Standard Operating Procedure for Authentication
To reinforce safeguards against fraudulent claims, the crime branch has developed a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining minimum authentication standards that police officers must follow:
- Verification of precise accident and hospitalization timings
- Confirmation of accident location and jurisdictional authority
- Documentation of motor vehicle involvement in the incident
- Thorough identity verification of victims to prevent duplicate claims
Police officers are additionally expected to ensure complete consistency across multiple documentation sources, including hospital medical records, police control room logs, First Information Reports (FIRs), unnatural death registry entries, and on-site investigation findings. Wherever available, officers must corroborate these details with CCTV footage and other visual evidence.
Data Management and Security Protocols
The directive further emphasizes the importance of prompt data entry on the e-DAR platform, with officers required to input all available information immediately and update pending details as they become available through established procedures. The order also stresses the critical need for secure handling of login credentials and implementation of regular supervisory checks to prevent unauthorized system access or improper claim approvals.
This comprehensive approach aims to balance the scheme's humanitarian objective of providing immediate medical assistance to road accident victims with robust administrative safeguards against potential misuse of public resources.
