Cutting the flab, Assam police start fitness survey

Assam Police launched 15-day fitness survey of personnel of all ranks to create a leaner, fitter force. Tests included recording weight, height, and BMI. Those with BMI of 30+ sent to health camp for 3 months. Those unable to bring BMI below 30 given option to go for voluntary retirement. Survey also seeks to weed out habitual drinkers and personnel with corruption charges.

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.