Odisha Government Issues Vigilance Directive for PM RAHAT Scheme
The Odisha state government has issued a crucial directive to police authorities, mandating heightened vigilance against potential fraudulent activities in the implementation of the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) scheme. This initiative provides every road accident victim, regardless of category, with cashless medical treatment coverage of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for a period of seven days following the accident.
Police Circular Details Monitoring Requirements
In a comprehensive circular dated April 7, the state crime branch specifically instructed Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to implement close monitoring of all claims to prevent systematic misuse of the scheme. The directive emphasized that timely police action through the government's electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) database serves dual purposes: facilitating prompt treatment for genuine victims while simultaneously creating barriers against fraudulent claims.
The circular explicitly stated: "Officers are required to generate unique victim identification numbers and thoroughly verify hospital treatment requests by approving, rejecting, or transferring them through the dedicated e-DAR platform." This procedural requirement establishes a formal verification mechanism before any cashless treatment authorization.
Establishment of Fraud Control Infrastructure
The crime branch further mandated that each SP designate a district-level PM RAHAT fraud control focal point officer. This designated officer will be responsible for reviewing suspicious cases that exhibit red flags and coordinating directly with hospitals to validate claim authenticity. The circular outlined specific warning indicators that should trigger enhanced scrutiny, including:
- Staged or completely fabricated accident scenarios
- Inconsistent details regarding accident timing and location
- Repeated hospital admissions involving the same individual
- Multiple victims presenting identical accident accounts without independent corroboration
- Delayed accident reporting beyond reasonable timeframes
- Cross-district claims with weak jurisdictional justification
- Unusual clusters of high-value cases originating from specific police stations
The order clarified the procedural balance required: "Any suspected organized fraud must be reported promptly to the crime branch without delaying genuine victim care. Responses on e-DAR should be provided within stipulated timelines based on prima facie assessment, with detailed investigation to follow as required."
Standard Operating Procedure for Authentication
To strengthen systemic safeguards, the crime branch has developed a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that outlines minimum authentication standards for all claims. Police officers must verify multiple elements including:
- Accident occurrence time and hospital admission timing
- Accident location and jurisdictional appropriateness
- Motor vehicle involvement confirmation
- Victim identity verification to prevent duplicate claims
Officers are additionally expected to ensure consistency across multiple documentation sources, including hospital medical records, police control room logs, First Information Reports (FIRs), unnatural death register entries, and spot investigation findings. Where available, corroboration with CCTV footage has been emphasized as a valuable verification tool.
Data Management and Security Protocols
The directive further instructed police personnel to enter all available accident details promptly into the e-DAR system, with provision for updating pending information later according to established procedure. The order stressed the critical importance of secure handling of login credentials and implementation of regular supervisory checks to prevent unauthorized system access or improper claim approvals.
This multi-layered approach combines technological oversight through the e-DAR platform with human verification mechanisms and procedural safeguards, creating a comprehensive framework designed to protect public funds while ensuring legitimate accident victims receive timely medical treatment without financial burden.
