Half of Patiala police unfit; suffer from obesity, diabetes - Hindustan Times
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Half of Patiala police unfit; suffer from obesity, diabetes

Hindustan Times | ByAmandeep Dixit, Patiala
Mar 21, 2016 02:58 PM IST

Half of the police force in Patiala district, including gazzeted officers till the rank of inspectors, is suffering from obesity, hypertension, diabetes and thyroid due to ‘over work’.

Half of the police force in Patiala district, including gazzeted officers till the rank of inspectors, is suffering from obesity, hypertension, diabetes and thyroid due to ‘over work’.

The report, which does not have any effect on the promotion or service of the police personnel, says, diseases like obesity and hypertension were commonly reported in elder age groups who could not handle the work pressure as per their age.(Illustration by Daljeet Kaur Sandhu)
The report, which does not have any effect on the promotion or service of the police personnel, says, diseases like obesity and hypertension were commonly reported in elder age groups who could not handle the work pressure as per their age.(Illustration by Daljeet Kaur Sandhu)

According to the medical report of the police personnel for the year 2015, approximately 50% of the police force in the district was suffering from diseases caused due to unscheduled meals, restlessness and overstress.

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The report, which does not have any effect on the promotion or service of the police personnel, says, diseases like obesity and hypertension were commonly reported in elder age groups who could not handle the work pressure as per their age.

The medical officer dealing with the medical examination of the cops said majority of the ASI, SI and inspectors were the victims of such diseases due to their age as few of them were close to their retirement from service, but were still handling stressful cases.

It must be mentioned that it is mandatory for all the police officers, including the gazzeted officers to get their medical examination done annually. Though most of the police personnel get their medical check-ups done at dispensary located in the police lines in Patiala, some of the gazzeted officers do opt for private doctors, as per the prescribed rules.

Further, the medical officer said they were maintaining the records of the patients suffering from the curable and chronic disease annually and also suggested them the diet plans for their improvement.

“We have been keeping a tab on the health of the cops and are witnessing improvement in some cases”, said the medical officer, adding that they have divided the fitness level of the cops into three grades.

Cops should take out time to maintain their health: SP

Meanwhile, Patiala SP (headquarters) Sharanjit Singh said every Friday the police organises parade at police lines that also involves physical fitness.

He said, “Doctors and other experts are arranged on regular basis to deliver lectures to the cops on how to maintain their fitness. Moreover, the department is paying them the salary for 13 months every year for the extra work they do. And anybody joining the police force is told about the busy schedule well in advance.” The SP added, “The cops are not that much overburdened that they cannot spare an hour per day for their fitness. It’s just a matter of priority.”

Issue should not be ignored: Ex-IGP

Meanwhile, Paramjit Singh Gill (retd), inspector general of police, said the issue should not be ignored. “The police personnel are suffering from such diseases due to work overload.

The department should introduce week-long training course for the non-gazzeted officers quarterly so that all the cops in district could attend the courses which should be focused on the physical fitness. Besides this, motivation lectures should be delivered to them to boost their confidence level,” he said.

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