10 km in 48 minutes: Rajasthan DGP sets an example

High on the DGP’s priority list is also the image of a policeman. “A fat,potbellied man in uniform standing on the street is not a sight anybody can appreciate and this has to change,” he says.

However,Meena’s proposal was met with stiff resistance not only amongst senior police officers,but politicians as well. “There were some misgivings that it was too hard and impossible,so I decided to run the race myself in Udaipur last week. Then a week later,during the recruitment drive in Kota,recruits and police officers requested me to do it again,and I managed it,” Meena says.

According to him,some critics said the run was too hot and too long to complete. “In Rajasthan,it is hot nine months out of 10. If a policeman cannot withstand the heat,then what is the point?” he asked.

“I wanted to send a message across not only to the police force but also to all young recruits. Running 10 km is not easy and requires practice. Though some candidates have not been able to complete it,more than 80 per cent have managed,” he adds.

Incidentally,the candidates in this test are not gauged by a stopwatch,but by chips implanted in their running shoes,ensuring no foul play.

Besides the physical test,Meena has also brought in other changes to the recruitment process rife with favouritism. “There have been allegations of favouritism for years now on the basis of caste,creed and cash. So from this recruitment drive onwards,all that will change,” he says.

The new system includes OMR sheets instead of written exams,and an earlier process of a pre-selection interview by a board has also been eliminated,he adds.