Unemployed veterinary graduates of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) are happy over the creation of 376 posts of Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (VAS) in the State Government.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD) Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, before taking his new assignment as the Secretary of the Department of Rural Development on May 1, impressed upon the Government about the plight of the Vet Grads, who could not land a job and threatened to launch an indefinite strike from next month.
Sethi also stressed on the requirement of veterinary doctors for good health of livestock in the State.
Over 400 veterinary graduates were unemployed as there were no posts of VAS vacant and no new posts were created for last so many years. However, the Government now realised the problem and at one stroke of pen created 376 posts of VAS.
The veterinary graduates went to meet Sethi to express their gratitude and happiness over the decision of the Government for creation of such a large number of posts to strengthen the system of veterinary services.
The State has about 3,040 livestock Aid Centres (lACs) compared to only 540 Veterinary Dispensaries, which is too insufficient to deal with the number of animal-related cases reaching these centres.
The FARD has planned to establish 2,945 new lACs. looking at the requirement, the Government took the step for creation of new posts for the veterinary doctors,” said a senior official of the department.
A survey conducted by the National Commission on Agriculture in 2013-14 mentioned that in Odisha, one veterinary doctor is responsible for treatment of livestock in 95 villages, which is much higher than other parts of the country.