How healthy are your traffic constables? Dept to check
In a first-of-its-kind undertaking, Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik wants traffic police constables to undergo health profiling.
In a first-of-its-kind undertaking, Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik wants traffic police constables to undergo health profiling. The aim is to find out the number of constables in the traffic police department who find it difficult to carry out their job because of health problems.
"We don't plan to issue termination letters to those who are unfit. We will find them a suitable job that does not involve physical exertion within the department itself," said Vivek Phansalkar, joint commissioner of police (traffic).
Traffic constables who are 30 years old or more will have to undergo profiling. They will be divided into three categories - red, yellow and green. Those constables who are completely fit are put under the green category, those in need of urgent attention and those who are completely unfit are put under the yellow and red categories respectively. The red category, also referred to as the danger zone, is for those suffering from serious ailments.
The fitness of police constables is calculated on the basis of their body mass index (BMI), which is supposed to be between 18-25lbs. Of the 2,364 constables in the traffic police department, 723 have undergone profiling so far. While 23 constables are in the red category, 88 are in the yellow category. Six hundred and twelve constables are completely fit. The 23 in the red category are found to be suffering with ailments such as varicose veins, cancer, tuberculosis, asthma and lung infections.
"The process of health profiling is still on. It will take a while to profile all police constables from the traffic department," Phansalkar said.
Brijesh Singh, additional commissioner of police (traffic), said they have also scrutinised policemen who are absent from duty because of health problems.
"We are checking records to find out how many policemen are on leave because of health problems and the funds that are being used for their treatment. It helps us identify the policemen who need medical attention," Singh said.