GUWAHATI: Two days after the Body Mass Index (BMI) test of Assam police personnel deemed 97% fit, the government sanctioned intensive medical screenings for police officers identified as obese.
To be conducted at government medical colleges, the tests will be held within a month. Confirming this on Monday, Director General of Police (DGP), GP Singh told the press that subsequent to the check-ups, the department would devise a comprehensive medical and nutritional intervention plan to the personnel.
“The state government has approved an intensive medical check of all obese personnel at government medical colleges,” confirmed Singh.
He also added that this would also entail relocation of the identified personnel to police stations where they can receive requisite medical and nutritional supervision.
In a prior announcement, Singh had granted police personnel who were classified as obese in the August BMI test a three-month window to shed the additional weight. He issued a stern warning, specifying that those who remain obese post the November deadline would be presented with the option of the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).
Two days ago on September 24, of the 70,161 police officers who took the BMI test, 68,413 met the required standards, whereas 1,748 did not. A BMI up to 30 is deemed “physically fit.”
However, Singh was quick to highlight that the intention behind this initiative was constructive. “My aim is to improve, not to harass. Only those who show no inclination to change would be offered VRS,” he clarified.
The decision to record the BMI for all officers, battalions, and other police staff was rolled out last month. The DGP himself led by example, being the first state policeman to record his BMI.
Endorsing the initiative, Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, shared a strict stance on the matter. He commented that personnel with obesity issues would not be permitted to serve in the state’s police department and would be accorded the option of VRS in alignment with governmental procedures.
