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Veterinarians' plea to Chief Minister-I

Sir,

It is quite unfortunate to bring it into your kind notice that the career of large number of veterinary students and graduates is on the stake. It is, perhaps, only due to the negligence of the State Government and lack of will in passing State Veterinary Act and hence State Veterinary Council.

The faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry was started in R S Pura Jammu as a wing of SKUAST Srinagar in 1995. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) was bifurcated in September last year into SKUAST-J (Jammu) and SKUAST-K (Kashmir). The first batch of BV Sc & AH passed out on Feb. 5, 2000, from Jammu. Then started the series of setbacks to these professionals (victims of Government apathy) in various fields. Skies fell on these vets when they were denied registration by the Veterinary Council of India followed by rejection of their forms for P G Courses, central services and Army's Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC). Now, these Veterinarians are left with no other option than to serve in the J & K State only that too as a special case for this batch as PSC has relaxed the necessity of VCI registration this time.

All this happened due to the absence of State Veterinary Council till today. Even the Veterinary faculty of SKUAST-J is not on the schedule of VCI as it was bifurcated last year and still the vety faculty of Jammu is waiting to enter its name in the VCI schedule. We choose the Veterinary profession due to the bright career and job prospective associated with it but now we don't have any option to leave the profession at this stage when our degrees are going to be completed.

The Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-J has put his utmost efforts to save the career of veterinarians but the State Government is sharing lineancy. The Veterinary students of Jammu are competent enough as compared to the other vety colleges. This has been possible due to the sincere efforts of the staff of faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Jammu.

Keeping in view the present situation of Veterinary students in light of the era of stiff competition, it is requested to take personal interest in saving our bright career. The State Veterinary Council Act be passed at the earliest so as to clear way for formation of State Veterinary Council. You are also requested to personally contact the VCI for registration of Faculty of Vety Science SKUAST-J.

We are hopeful that you will definitely take some necessary steps so as to save the career of these Veterinary students of Jammu. We are also sure that this issue will not be dealt with in the way of ordinary issues as it involves the career of vets whose time is being wasted due to the delay in clearance of line for registration. Since, we have informed you the whole matter, being the CM and Pro-chancellor of SKUAST responsibility of saving the career of these professionals now lies on your shoulders.

Yours etc...
Shahid Iqbal
Publicity Secretary
All J&K Veterinary Students Association,
College of Vety Sc. SKUAST, Jammu.

Veterinarians' plea to Chief Minister-II

Sir,

It draws reference from the letter 'Registration of SKUAST-J' published in DE Dt. 14-10-2000.

The problem of recognition of Veterinary College Jammu (F.V Sc. & A.H. SKUAST-J) erupted after bifurcation of SKUAST-J&K. The Vety. College, Jammu made considerable progress in last six years after its inception and a batch of doctors has already passed out and on a scale this progress is many times better than various other professional institutions which came into existence at that time. The required facilities for recognition of Vety. College by Vety. Council of India (VCI), it possesses, & thus qualifies for the same. But due to procedural hassles, and perhaps lack of swift action with a foresight delayed the process. Of course, there is one handicap that as per VCI regulations each department of the College must have a minimum of seven teachers including one Professor, two associate Professors and four Asstt. Professors and there are seventeen deptts. (required for imparting minimum standard Vety. qualification of B. V Sc & A.H.) So a miniature Vety. College should have a minimum of one hundred and nineteen teachers besides the Dean, Assoc. Dean/Director and a large number of supporting (Technical, skilled, semi skilled and labours) staff.

Since Veterinary Profession is a broad field, topping in job opportunities through out the country having its applications besides Govt Sector, in Army, Paramilitary forces, Pharmaceuticals, Dairy Development, research fields and above all a persistent demand of Vets. in foreign countries, but for all this, first criterion is registration of a doctor with Vety. Council of India or a State Vety. Council.

Therefore, the authorities of SKUAST-J Vety. College and the Govt of J&K, keeping in view the future of the five batches of trainee doctors at the College, should take immediate steps and get the college evaluated by VCI and meanwhile efforts be made to constitute the State Vety. Council for which responsibility lies on State Govt & the College as well.

Further, the minister for Animal & Sheep Husbandry deptts. is also requested to prove true to his statements (carried by various National dailies) & introduce Vety. Council Act in the State legislature.

Yours etc...
Dr Sarfaraz Naseem Chowdhary
Founder & Ex-President:
All J&K Veterinary Students Association

Payment of honorarium

Sir,

With reference to the above cited subject, we the teachers of District Doda were engaged for conducting child labour survey. Three teachers from every Education Zone were deputed to conduct this survey. We conducted the survey and submitted the report to the concerned quarters. We were promised an honorarium of Rs 50/- per day but we have not been paid that honorarium since long.

When we approached the Asstt. Labour Commissioner Doda, he replied that the funds are available with them but they are waiting orders from the Government for payment to the concerned teachers engaged for this duty. The Survey was conducted in 19.9.1997 to 13.10.1997.

Now, it is not known when the Government will approve and we will get the honorarium.

We, therefore, approach the authorities concerned once again through your esteemed paper and request the authorities to sanction the payment of honorarium immediately.

It is hoped that the Government will redress our grievances by making payment of the honorarium as early as possible.

Yours etc...
Aggrieved Teachers of Doda
through Arvind Kumar Kaul, Teacher.