To check dummies,police recruitment goes hi-tech

A team from Hyderabad-based firm,Timing Technologies India Pvt Ltd,which makes these radio frequency identification (RFID) chips for runners,will be camping at the venue at the police headquarters to help the police officers overseeing the recruitment process.

Rajesh Kumar Mishra,a software engineer with the company,said the RFID chip is attached to a candidate’s ankle and it transmits real-time data on his speed,heart beats,pulse rate etc. to a server manned by the recruiters.

A candidate has to run for 800 metres in the preliminary round. Those who qualify are asked to appear for the 5,000-m run after which the selected ones undergo physical tests that measure their height,weight etc. Finger prints and photographs of the candidates who clear 800-m race are also recorded so that there are no dummies used for the 5,000-m race the next day.

The system was first used by UP Police in 2009 and later by Delhi Police in 2010. The Hyderabad-based company has been providing the chip solutions to marathons in the country,the most recent being the Mumbai Marathon on January 15.

The mandatory 5000-m run has been introduced by the State Police Recruitment Board for the first time. Earlier,it was only 1,600 metres.

A member from the Board said it is not the distance that matters,but it is the time in which he finishes the run.

On the other hand,other tests like long jump,high jump,shot put,etc. have been done away with.