Wellness programme for policeRajkot: Bhavnagar police launched a three-phase health and wellness initiative for their personnel, including regular medical screening, mental health support and compulsory medical insurance, with each police station to appoint a dedicated wellness nodal officer.Bhavnagar police have initiated a project to focus on the physical and mental health of personnel, recognizing that officers often work under strenuous conditions and delay medical care until treatment options are limited. The programme includes periodic health screening and the creation of a comprehensive health registry to ensure timely medical intervention.Recognizing the round-the-clock demands of policing, Bhavnagar police launched “Mission Aarogyam”, a structured three-phase framework for health, wellness and security of personnel, under the motto “Swasth Police, Sashakt Seva” (Healthy Police, Empowered Service).The project was launched by assistant superintendent of police, Bhavnagar rural, Ghanshyam Gautam. The first phase of medical screening began on Thursday at Vartej police station.“This Phase I rollout focuses on baseline physical health mapping to ensure early detection of non-communicable diseases and metabolic disorders. Officers are undergoing a core diagnostic battery of tests, including comprehensive blood profiling, ECGs and kidney and liver function tests. The results will be used to create a digitized Health Risk Registry, systematically categorizing personnel into Green (Healthy), Amber (At-Risk), and Red (Immediate Intervention Required) zones to facilitate targeted medical follow-ups,” Gautam said.“For years, police personnel — especially the constabulary — have faced severe occupational hazards such as high stress, irregular shift hours and erratic dietary habits, leading to high vulnerability to non-communicable diseases and psychological fatigue,” said Nitesh Pandey, superintendent of police, Bhavnagar. He added, “To combat this, Phase II of the mission introduces the ‘MANAS’ vertical, dedicated entirely to psychological resilience and mental wellness.”This phase aims to reduce stigma around mental health within the force through workshops on meditation, tactical breathing, anger management and sleep hygiene for rotating shifts. Each police station will appoint a “wellness nodal officer” to serve as a peer-support point trained in psychological first aid.The final phase links healthcare with long-term security. The department has mandated 100% enrolment of personnel and their families under the Gujarat Karmayogi Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, providing cashless medical cover of up to Rs 10 lakh.
