ANANTAPUR: The state government decision to extend the services of employees from age 60 to 62 appears to be receiving mixed responses.
The uniformed services, mostly in the police department up to inspector level, have a worry over continued physical and mental fitness after the state raised the retirement age to 62. Those manning these sections speak of prolonged tension and work pressures among the cops.
The work of constables has always been one of the most challenging and stressful. Constables, head constables, assistant sub inspectors, SIs and inspectors have to deal with angry mobs, counter-insurgency operations, traffic control, security for VIP visits, political rallies and religious events in addition to doing regular law and order duties.
A study revealed that a majority of the cops often face hazardous situations that result in physical or mental trauma. Even deaths in the line of duty were reported during the last two Covid waves. Many of them infected with Covid survived with a lot of struggle.
At least 5000 inspectors, head constables and constables suffered serious health hazards during the two Covid phases in the state. A few of them died due to multiple organ failures.
An inspector from Rayalaseema region said the increase of two more years of service would add to their burden due to health issues. “It is very difficult to maintain physical and mental fitness till age 62 as many of us are diabetic and have hypertension,” he said.
Another head constable said many of his colleagues and seniors were facing knee and cardiac-related health issues in addition to diabetes and hypertension.
A senior official from the education department took VRS a year and a half before his retirement age a year ago. While several officials from other departments were taking VRS before completion of service, the police, forest and fire services and other uniformed services face more of fitness-related issues at the fag end of their service.
