Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh police department has announced that personnel from the rank of constable to inspector will get to avail a weekly-off beginning today.

According to media reports, the new system was recommended a committee headed by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Ravi Shankar Ayyanar. It is being implemented in tune with an assurance given by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Police constables, head constables, assistant sub-inspectors, sub-inspectors and inspectors will get to avail a weekly day off under the new system.

Ayyanar said police personnel over the age of 40 were suffering from ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes, peptic ulcers, chest and heart, and the weekly off will help reduce the stress that caused health problems for the personnel.

The weekly-off system is currently being followed on a trial basis in Visakhapatnam and Kadapa districts.

It has been reported that the Ayyanar committee came out with a set of 19 formulae over implementing the weekly-offs in various police wings. It depended on the available staff strength and work load, and respective wings also submitted their proposals and requirements.

A separate IT platform was set up to monitor effective implementation of the new system and ensure everyone got a weekly-off.