Cops in twin cities told to shape up, attend 6-wk refresher course

Bhubaneswar: With healthcare staff and police personnel on the forefront of the fight against the unknown enemy — which poses a greater risk to the lives of those with comorbidities — neither can or should allow their fitness levels to drop.
Waking up to this fact perhaps, the commissionerate police has now decided to ensure the fitness of its staff in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Commissioner of police Sudhanshu Sarangi has made it mandatory for overweight personnel to attend a six-week refresher’s course on body fitness and exercise.
Altogether 8,000 personnel work under the commissionerate police in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Hectic and erratic work schedules owing to staff shortage in most police stations have led to many personnel suffering from several diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
From next week, all the police personnel will be monitored according to the body mass index (BMI), which measures the fat deposit in the human body based on the height and weight of the person. Doctors will educate the cops about the ideal body weight according to their age and height. The database will be kept in the police hospital here.
“We will try to complete the health check-up (height/weight measurement) of all our personnel by July 30. A three-month deadline will be given to those who are found to be overweight according to the BMI calculation, to reduce their weight. In November, the overweight personnel will again be tested,” Sarangi stated in his order.
The top cop said a six-week refresher course on body fitness and exercise will be launched for those who fail to reduce their weight by November. They will be subjected to compulsory exercise every morning in addition to the six-week refresher fitness course, Sarangi said.
The police commissioner also warned of disciplinary action if the personnel ignored his order. “The defaulters may face salary cut and compulsory retirement from service on health grounds. I appeal to all my staff members to realise the unprecedented health crisis caused by the Covid-19 virus. Since the vaccine is in a trial stage, we all have to take care of ourselves and stay fit,” Sarangi said.
The police commissioner said fitness holds key to policing activities. Immediately after recruitment, most personnel take care of their health and exercise to remain fit. But subsequently, they start ignoring their fitness, he added.