TAMIL NADU

Initiatives/ Scheme

Tamil Nadu’s Initiatives Regarding Road Accidents

Context: It is a matter of concern that Tamil Nadu continues to be the state with the highest number of road accidents in India. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 4.95 lakh road accidents occurred in India in 2024.

Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI)

The Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI) is a comprehensive trauma care program launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu in June 2017.

TAEI was established under the Health Department to facilitate coordinated action among various stakeholders and to prevent loss of life.
Objective: To standardize, streamline, and strengthen accident and emergency care services particularly along highways with the aim of reducing fatalities.
Key Pillars: TAEI encompasses the following six domains: Trauma (Road Traffic Accidents), Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attacks), Stroke, Burns, Poisoning, and Pediatric Emergency Care (PREM).

Innuir Kappom – Nammai Kaakkum 48 Scheme

- Provides free emergency medical treatment to victims of road accidents within the first 48 hours of the incident.
- This scheme covers 101 specific medical treatments, valued up to ₹2.00 lakhs, across more than 723 empanelled hospitals.

Ensures immediate and cashless treatment to save lives during the ‘Golden Hour.’

Key Details of the Scheme

Anyone involved in a road accident within Tamil Nadu (including state residents, non-residents, and foreign nationals).
As outlined in the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project document, 101 medical treatments—including accident-related trauma care—are provided up to a value of ₹2 lakhs for the first 48 hours.
No upfront payment is required for emergency medical services.
No insurance card or prior authorization is required; all accident victims are eligible to receive treatment under this scheme.
As of January 2026, it has been reported that over 5 lakh individuals across various hospitals have benefited from this scheme.

Emergency Ambulance Scheme

- The ‘108 Emergency Ambulance Scheme’ in Tamil Nadu is a 24/7 free service launched on September 15, 2008.

It aims to provide immediate pre-hospital care and transportation to a hospital accessible via a toll-free number during emergency situations such as accidents, injuries, and pregnancy-related complications.

Operated under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the scheme ensures rapid response times through the deployment of trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

Key Features

- Objective: To provide a free, 24×7, integrated emergency service covering medical, police, and fire-related emergencies.
- ‘Emergency 108’ App: A mobile application designed to track ambulances and minimize response times. It also enables users to transmit their location details even in the absence of an internet connection.

Personnel: Each ambulance is staffed by a trained Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) qualified to provide pre-hospital care.

Related Services

104 Helpline: Used for obtaining free medical advice, maternal care support, and mental health counseling.
112 Service: Part of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), which integrates the 108 service.

Singappen Special Rapid Force for Women’s Safety in Tamil Nadu

- Context: The Government of Tamil Nadu issued a Government Order to establish the “Singappen” Special Rapid Force aimed at strengthening women’s safety across the State.

The “Singappen” Force will function with preventive and protective strategies as its primary objective.

The force will maintain a visible public presence to enhance confidence and security among women.

It will be deployed across the State with adequate personnel and modern infrastructure to assist women in distress situations.

Major Functions of the Force

Identification and monitoring of crime-prone and vulnerable locations to prevent offences against women.
Continuous surveillance and intensified patrolling in public places.
Special focus on crowded areas such as: Bus stops, Railway stations, Educational institutions, IT company zones and other high-footfall locations
Prevention and control of illegal and anti-social activities through active police presence.
Immediate response and prompt action on complaints related to women’s safety.
Rescue and protection of victims along with facilitating access to support and welfare services.

Coordination and Administration

The force will coordinate with

It will conduct awareness programmes and encourage community participation for improving women’s safety.
The headquarters of the “Singappen” Special Rapid Force will function from the office of the Director General of Police (DGP).