Nalgonda Police to Get Weekly Off for First Time

It’s official! Policemen in Nalgonda district will enjoy weekly offs from next week. Once it is implemented smoothly, it will be extended to other districts in Telangana. According to officials, as many as 4,000 of the 6,000 workforce in Nalgonda will get offs in the pilot project. SP, Nalgonda, Dr T Prabhakar Rao told Express this is the first time that the Nalgonda police will be getting weekly offs. “We are planning to implement this from June 22 or 23. The staff category - from home guards to sub-inspectors - will get this benefit initially. Later, it will be applied for inspectors and up to DSP rank officers,” Prabhakar said. Elaborating on the plan, Prabhakar said, for instance, if 30 policemen from home guards to sub-inspectors are working in a police station, at least 15 will take off on Sundays. The remaining will get an off between Monday and Saturday in rotational system.” He, hastened to add that in case of a security emergency, the weekly offs will be curtailed. “We will take precautionary measures to prevent untoward incidents and maintain law and order while providing weekly offs,” the SP said. It is learnt that higher officials were directed by the Telangana government to implement weekly offs for policemen as a pilot project in Nalgonda district. The district has as many as 4,500 civil police comprising home guards, constables, head constables, assistant sub-inspectors, sub-inspectors and inspectors while 2,000 staff of armed reserve and Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) are also discharging duties. Prabhakar expressed the hope that the new system will give much-needed breather to the district police. “We will implement and give a final shape to the plan soon,” he said. Policemen in the district expressed happiness over the prospect of taking a day off, a break from the high pressure job, and spend some time with their families. The Hyderabad Police, meanwhile, are also hoping that they will get a day’s break at least from their hectic duties, over-burdened as they are.

By Moule Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com