GUWAHATI
The Assam police on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 started a 15-day fitness survey of its personnel of all ranks in a bid to have a leaner, fitter, stronger force.
Scores of police officers and personnel of lower ranks lined up at the 4th Assam Police Battalion in Guwahati for the first of fitness surveys across 36 locations. The fitness assessment included recording the weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) of each personnel.
“Following instructions from the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, we announced the tests on May 16 and gave our 67,000 personnel three months to get in shape through regular physical training,” Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Assam’s Director-General of Police told the journalists. The deadline was for all personnel, including the Indian Police Serve and the Assam Police Service officers.
Mr. Singh, who was the first officer to undergo the tests, said the survey would continue till August 31. Those found with a BMI of 30 or more, indicating obesity, would be sent to a health camp for up to three months, he added.
The health camp would be conducted at the Police Training Academy in eastern Assam’s Dergaon where fitness trainers, doctors, and nutritionists would help the overweight personnel cut the flab.
“We will try to bring their BMI recordings below 30 at the health camp. Some of our personnel might feel uncomfortable with the move, but it will help them in the long term,” Mr. Singh said.
Except for those who have medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, the personnel who fail to bring their BMI below 30 would be given the option to go for voluntary retirement, he said.
Apart from “unhealthy” personnel, the Assam police force also seeks to weed out habitual drinkers and personnel with corruption charges against them. A few accused of graft and misbehaviour, particularly with women, have already been sacked.
