Dr Mandeep Azad and Dr Manmeet Motan
The ability to domesticate animals and reap the benefits of milk is a man’s greatest success story. Ten thousand years ago, when humans were still hunters, someone was smart enough to say ‘wait, don’t kill these animals. Use them for milk’. Whoever that person was, he was certainly one of the greatest geniuses in human history. The success story of milk has continued undeterred since and that in itself is proof of its benefits, efficacy and safety.
WORLD VETERINARY DAY
In 2014, the National Crime Records Bureau of India reported 5,650 farmer suicides. The highest number of farmer suicides were recorded in 2004 when 18,241 farmers committed suicide. The farmers suicide rate in India has ranged between 1.4 to 1.8 per 100,000 total population, over a 10-year period through 2005.The main reason of this increase number of suicides is low farm income due to drought and crop failure. In these times of crop failure one sector that is generating profit and saving farmers from suicide is the livestock sector It might seem improbable to the followers of Indian economy but it is the new reality economic contribution of livestock is today more than that of food grain crops. Last decade has seen a consistent performance by the Indian Livestock Sector- contributing 5-13% more than the food grain crops. The planning commission reports have officially confirmed that both the livestock and fisheries segment have been growing faster than the crops in the last decade.As of now, livestock contributes more than 25% to the agricultural gross domestic product. In 2010-11, livestock generated Rs. 3, 40,500 crores. This was 28% of the agricultural GDP and 5% of the country’s GDP. The total output from livestock was higher than the combined output of food grains (Rs, 3,15,000 crores) & fruits and vegetables (Rs. 2,08,800 crore).In 2009-10, livestock was 2.5 times the value of paddy and more than 3 times the value of wheat. Rural poverty is marginal in areas where livestock contributes to the agriculture in a greater way. So on this World veterinary day we should take a oath to prevent any kind of cruelty against animals so that we can exploit their full production potential in a positive way without any harm to these beautiful creatures.
World Veterinary Day was instigated by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000 to be celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April. In 2008 the WVA and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) agreed on the creation of the World Veterinary Day Award aimed at rewarding the most successful celebration of the contribution of the veterinary profession to society. This Year WV is being celebrated on 29th April 2017 world wide.
India currently has 55 veterinary colleges, with an average intake capacity of 60 students each, working out to a total of 3,300 a year. The numbers of graduates annually after finishing the five-year course is even lower, at about 2,100.”At this rate, the demand can never be met. There are 63,000 registered veterinarians today, whereas the requirement is between 1.1-1.2 lakh”,.The general norm is to have at least one veterinary doctor for every 5,000 animals. India’s total cattle and buffalo population was 30 crore as per the 2012 Livestock Census, translating into a requirement of 60,000 vets catering to bovines alone. These would further go up if poultry, sheep, goats, pigs and other animals are added.. But the country has fallen much behind the required number of doctors due to shortage of seats in veterinary colleges, poor pay scales in the government services and brain drain. “Many of them are going abroad as they can earn at least Rs 5 lakh a month to begin with. This pay goes up to Rs 50 lakh if they earn a name for themselves. A government job here pays us Rs 50,000. With countries like America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Denmark opening up the gates for Indian veterinary doctors, it has become a win-win situation, experts say. Doctors work there as dairy experts and have a plethora of opportunities in top research institutes
Animals affect everyone’s life, whether you’re an animal-lover, animal-hater, animal-eater or animal-saver, and their presence is important. Importance ranges from companionship to food source, and it varies by person. Becoming a Veterinarian is a five year tough course with field application. If you are further interested in masters and Ph.d. you must need few more years of hard work. The system of education is very tough and continuous where theoretical and practical experiences are shared with students. Regular examination and direct exposure to animal suffering and treatment is shown to these students which after tough period of 5 years become a full fledge efficient doctors who can treat their patients without talking to their patients. In Jammu and Kashmir two veterinary colleges are running under SKUAST-J university and SKUAST-K university. As people are getting more aware and caring about their pets and livestock so it is very important to have very skilled veterinary doctors and scientists who can take care of their animals. Government should consider increasing number of posts as their is shortage of these skilled doctors. India is largest producer of milk in world and so if u want to sustain that level we need these doctors and scientist to come forward. White revolution ,yellow revolution are a point of proud of Indian but they would have not been possible without expert advice these animal scientist and doctors. White revolution has been the most beneficial project funded by the World Bank anywhere in the World, an incremental return of Rs. 400 billion annually have been generated by an investment of Rs. 20 billion over a period of 20 years.If government can pass even 1 per cent annually for giving milking cows and buffaloes to the poor, India would have lesser poverty and more milk. India is largest producer of milk in world and so if u want to sustain that level we need these doctors and scientist to come forward. Prime minster of India Narendra Modi has stressed upon the role of livestock in lowering poverty and upgrading poor farmers. He emphasizes on increasing the investment in this sector as this is the only sector with large scale self employment and can improve economic condition of farmers. It is our appeal to the state government and especially to the concerned minister to make some new policies and job opportunities for these young doctors to use their skill and knowledge for animal welfare. Veterinarians are dedicated women and men whose profession is caring for the health and well-being of animals. Their work is widely varied and may include such activities as treatment of animals, pets, framing breeding policies etc. Whatever their specialty, veterinarians are dedicated to maintaining and promoting animal health. They understand the importance of animal welfare and the interdependent relationships between animals and humans. On this WVD we want to appreciate and recognize the efforts and work done by these veterinarians for care and health animals.
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