Duty hours slashed: 7-hour shifts to ease Mumbai Police's stress

Overburdened. Overworked. Overweight. That's the Mumbai Police personnel in a nutshell. But this, the department hopes, will soon be a thing of the past, if their fitness plan steered by the shift timings of corporate work culture, goes as planned. Beginning November 1, constables, assistant inspectors and sub-inspectors at JJ Marg police station in Byculla will have to clock in only seven-hour shifts, down from 12 hours (or more, if needed).

The shifts will run from 8 am-3 pm, 3 pm-10 pm, 10 pm-8 pm and 10 am-6 pm. Police inspectors, though, will have to continue to work 12 hours.

The new timings will be initially implemented only at JJ Marg police station, and depending on the project's success, they will be extended to other stations in the city.

Weekday off
The Mumbai Police is also offering some TLC: personnel will be given a day off during weekdays to take care of ‘personal work' and spend quality time with their families.

The shorter shifts not only aim at reducing workload, but also allowing them to get fitter - mentally and physically - by giving them the option to eat healthy home-cooked meals and spend leisure time.

Diet, shifts bugbears
Poor diet and long working hours have led to a string of health complications - sometimes even fatal - and Mumbai Police personnel are no exception (see box).

Dilip Shinde, senior inspector at JJ Marg police station, says the new timings will take a load off the personnel's mind. "Most constables live on the outskirts of the city, and travel for a minimum of two hours to reach their police station. Working for 12-13 hours, then commuting for another two hours takes a toll."

Besides, the burned out cops can barely take the time out of their work schedule to sit back and enjoy a meal. ‘Fast food', like vadapav, become their go-to meals. Exercise is often a luxury they cannot afford.

The new shifts, says Shinde, will offer them the choice to return to a warm homely meal.

No effect on duties
Police officials assure that the revised shift timings will not compromise on duties. At JJ Marg, which has some 140 personnel, 30 constables and 10 assistant inspectors and sub-inspectors will work in each shift to ensure round-the-clock vigilance. In the 10 am-6 pm shift (the ‘peak hours'), there will be an additional 10 personnel to handle administrative work. Four inspectors will work 12 hours each, and the senior inspector (Shinde) will have to be on call at all times of the day.

Shinde says the plan will be assessed after two months and depending on its feasibility, it will be implemented across the city.