The policemen, however, have been asked to keep their cell phones switched on so that they can be called during emergency. (File photo)
In a first, Kanpur Police is going to give weekly off to personnel beginning with one of the police stations of the city. The initiative would begin tomorrow for the police personnel posted at Maharajpur police station.
"On the directives of the Uttar Pradesh government to give weekly offs to police personnel, a pilot project is launched in one of the police stations in the district," Kanpur Senior Superintendent of Police Shalabh Mathur said.
If the project succeeds, it would be implemented in all police stations across the district, he said. Mr Mathur said the project is a step towards helping the policemen deal with mental and physical stress.
The policemen, however, have been asked to keep their cell phones switched on so that they can be called during emergency.
Police personnel are on duty even to the extent of 24-hour a day that too without having any weekly offs. This seriously affects them mentally and physically, thereby decreasing their work efficiency, the official said.
A similar initiative was taken about two years ago in the state but the project was shelved due to pile up.