For Delhi Police personnel, long duty hours could soon be a thing of the past. In a bid to improve efficiency and alertness among cops, the Delhi Police has decided to introduce eight-hour duty shifts for its personnel at two police stations — Sangam Vihar and Dabri — on a trial basis. The move has been initiated taking into consideration increasing number of depression and suicide cases among cops in the national Capital.
Top sources told The Pioneer that a three-member committee headed by Joint Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak was formed in March this year to conduct a survey across 168 police stations and prepare a report regarding eight or 12 hours duty shifts for its personnel. The committee has recently submitted a report to Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar Verma.
Sources said that the shift system will be introduced in two police stations first and subsequently in all the police stations in a phased manner.
“Currently, there is no fixed duty hours for us. But soon it will be implemented,” said an official of Dabri police station. The senior police officers said due to long working hours, the low-ranking officials are facing sleep deprivation and psychological disorder.
“Working professionals, including BPO and security personnel majorly have disturbed sleep cycle as they do not get regular six-seven hours of sound sleep. lack of sleep can result in headache, depression, muscle strain, back problems and some neurological disorders. If a person’s sleep is deprived for long, these problems can increase manifold. Body gets strained which can impact concentration affecting the work on day to day basis,” said Sandeep Nayar, Sr Consultant & HoD, Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Sleep Disorder at BlK Super Specialty Hospital.
According to the Delhi Police, cops in the police stations are under severe psychological and physical pressure due to workload, and long and untimely duty hours. They often work over 16 hours a day. They do not get leave for weeks and have little family time. Almost 80 per cent of police personnel were not provided accommodation near their posting and their salaries are not enough to rent house.
“We are on 24x7 duties in our assigned beat areas, and are rarely transferred. Besides, it is mandatory for us to take accident victims and unclaimed corpses to hospitals and morgues, but we are not provided money for sundry expenses. We have to pay from their own pocket,” said a police constable on the condition of anonymity.
Senior officers feel that this is a main reason for corruption. “When the force gets the adequate strength, a beat constable can work in three shifts under constant monitoring of senior officials. The satisfaction level would also rise. Making eight hours shift system will help the lower-rung officials give time to their family members,” they said.
In the past few months, there have been reports of policemen committing suicide due to stress. On Thursday, a Delhi Police constable allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a train at Patel Chowk Metro Station. He was posted at Communications Unit of the Delhi Police, undergoing treatment for depression. Two month ago, a constable had made an appeal to the top cop, highlighting the plight of lower-rung. His one-page letter touched upon various issues, including long duty hours, revised promotion policy for constables and head constables. He appealed to the police chief to fix duty hours for constables.