Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij issued an order on Friday mandating the transfer of overweight police officers and personnel to police lines within the state. The decision aims to prioritize the fitness of police officers, allowing them to rejoin duty after achieving the required fitness through exercise. This move follows a similar initiative implemented in Assam, where police personnel are given three months to work on their fitness while their Body Mass Index (BMI) is recorded.
In a tweet, Minister Vij stated, "Keeping in mind the fitness of Police officers and personnel, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij issues an order - overweight Police personnel be transferred to Police lines. They can join back the duty once again after they gain fitness through exercise."
In Assam, the Director General of Police (DGP), Gyanendra Pratap Singh, announced a fitness survey for police personnel, including Indian Police Service (IPS) and Assam Police Service (APS) officers. Those found "unfit" will be offered voluntary retirement (VRS) from service. The personnel in Assam will have three months to work on their fitness, following which their BMIs will be recorded.
Singh further added, "We plan to give three months' time to all Assam Police personnel, including IPS & APS officers, till August 15 and then start BMI assessment in the next fifteen days. All those who are in the obese (BMI 30+) category would be offered another three months' time to reduce weight (till November end) and after that, VRS option, except for those who have genuine medical reasons like hypothyroidism, etc. "
Last month, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that around 300 Assam Police personnel who were "habitual drinkers" would be offered VRS.