Trim your fat, pick your posting: SP tells constables

Policemen who shed 5 kilos can choose their station in Chikkamagaluru

A district police chief in Karnataka has come up with an incentive offer to make his force leaner.

The constables and head constables of Chikkamagaluru district have been offered a posting to the police station of their choice by Superintendent of Police K. Annamalai, if they can reduce by five kilogrammes by April.

The SP has thrown open ‘registrations,’ and installed a weighing scale in his office. “All those willing to avail of this opportunity can register their names along with their current body weight by the end of this week,” Mr. Annamalai said. He will compile the number of registrations by Monday for all stations in his jurisdiction.

While some constables are mulling the offer, one said it would be a tough challenge to burn calories so fast. The SP said he usually keeps a weighing scale in his chamber, wherever he is posted to assess the health of the constabulary.

“The staff has four months to reduce weight. I don’t know what they will do, some may go for yoga and others may prefer jogging or swimming,” he said.

In good faith

Under Departmental transfer rules, Superintendents enjoy powers over the transfer of officials up to the level of ASIs. The ‘weight loss’ offer applies only to constables and head constables. The guidelines issued by the department state that a staff member should not continue in one place for more than three years and should not be posted to his place of origin. Besides, in most cases, letters from people’s representatives or recommendations from senior officers play a major role in police transfers, a senior official said.

“I have taken up this initiative in good faith. If some staff members feel enthused and work to lose their weight, it is a good thing. Whether he gets a transfer or not, he will continue to maintain fitness even afterwards. There is no violation of any rule. Many private companies follow this system, where weight reduction is encouraged through an incentive,” said Mr. Annamalai.

The SP also plans to hold a programme in April to felicitate those who have managed to cut the flab.