The long-pending weekly off system in the Police Department will be implemented in the State from Wednesday, benefiting about 67,804 personnel.
“A day’s off in a week will help policemen take rest, maintain good health, relieve themselves from stress, and spare some time to the family,” Director General of Police (DGP) D. Gautam Sawang has said.
Following the directions of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, a committee was constituted to study the week off system. We deliberated at length with the A.P. Police Association members, officers and the committee members, he said.
“We will kick-start the weekly off system from tomorrow (Wednesday),” said Mr. Sawang.
The committee, headed by Additional Director General (Law and Order) Ravi Shankar Ayyannar, in its report discussed the possibility of giving weekly off, work pressure in different wings, problems being faced by policemen in different ranks and availability of strength.
“Officers have also studied aspects such as policing, working hours and welfare schemes being implemented in 19 wings in the department in various States,” Mr. Sawang said.
A day’s off would be given in a week to all police constables, head constables, Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and Circle Inspectors (CIs).
The system would be implemented in about 19 categories, including Law and Order (L&O), Armed Reserve (AR), Crime, Greyhounds, Intelligence, APSP, Special Branch (SB) and other wings, the DGP said.
‘Better policing’
“The weekly off facility will be implemented practically in all the categories, and the respective officer will be intimated about his off in advance to plan his personal work accordingly. An IT platform (App) will be created to monitor the implementation of the system,” Mr. Sawang told The Hindu.
Mr. Ayyannar said that weekly off would be given to all the police personnel in the 957 police stations in the State.
The DGP would monitor the system every month. It would help the police function in a better way, he added.