The re-examination of body mass index (BMI) for Assam Police personnel categorized as ”obese” has commenced as part of efforts to maintain a professional and physically fit police force. The review involves 1,884 police personnel who fell into the “Obese” category (30+ BMI) during the initial BMI check conducted in August of the previous year.
The re-examination began at three locations: Jorhat, Silchar, and Guwahati, according to Director General of Police GP Singh. Emphasizing the significance of physical fitness, the DGP expressed hope that many of the personnel had made improvements during the three-month period since the initial testing.
During the BMI tests conducted in August, nearly 2.5% of the police personnel were identified as obese, with BMI readings exceeding 30. Those found in the obese category were placed under medical care to address their fitness levels. In the initial phase of the exercise, 70,161 personnel underwent BMI testing, with 1,748 individuals identified as having BMI readings over 30.
Director General of Police GP Singh had previously stated that personnel unable to reduce their weight within the stipulated period might be offered a voluntary retirement option, except for those with genuine medical reasons. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had advocated for removing what he referred to as the ‘dead wood’ from the police force, including habitual drinkers, individuals with extreme obesity, and those facing corruption charges, with the goal of creating a responsive and action-oriented police force.