For four years, the government has been running an incentive scheme of Rs250 per month for policemen whose BMI is below or exactly 25.
The stereotype of a pot-bellied policeman is a thing of the past. More city cops every year are availing of the ‘fitness’ allowance, an incentive started for the policemen in state above the age of 30 with a BMI (body mass index) lower than 25.
For four years, the government has been running an incentive scheme of Rs250 per month for policemen whose BMI is below or exactly 25. BMI or body mass index is measured as weight divided by height. This scheme can be availed of by policemen between the ranks of constable and inspector.
While the cops falling under the unfit category were 11-20% between 2007 and 2009, it has fallen to a little more than 5% in the past two years.
These figures are not exact, as it does not take into account the entire Mumbai police force above the age of 30 and includes only those who apply to the administration to avail the allowance. But the statistics give a good picture of the reality, as most of the over-15,000 police force above 30 apply to avail this quota.
“The figures are an indication that the scheme is working. More and more policemen are being declared fit,” said SP Yadav, joint commissioner of police, administration.
In the past few years, the police have started a lot of measures to control obesity such as starting gymnasiums across the city. Next week, they will be starting an obesity clinic at Nagpada police hospital. The equipment — body fat monitor — has been put in place.
Dr Girish Gadkari, obesity consultant, will head this clinic. Gadkari said that he will work on three kinds of policemen — obese with high BMI, obese with diabetes, hypertension and other associated problems, and obese with cardiac problems or with a family history of cardiac problems. The programme will supplement and not substitute the treatment prescribed by the cardiologist or physician.
Gadkari first records a detailed history of the patient, carries out medical investigations, simultaneously feeding details into a computer software developed by him. When all details are fed, it flashes the calorie need of the patient, which helps Gadkari chalk out a diet plan before giving them a target weight to achieve.
Gadkari has also written two books on the subject.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}