GUWAHATI, Sept 8 - Assam today got the first ever inpatient unit for veterinary treatment. The unit has been set up at the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara. It has the capacity to keep 18 large animals, 12 medium-sized animals and around 30 pet animals at a time.
�For the first time in Assam, such an inpatient unit is open for public use. The unit will run under public-private-partnership mode. The building has been constructed by our authority, while an NGO named Sahay will maintain it further,� Vivekananda Saikia, dean of the College of Veterinary Science said.
Dr Kamal Malla Bujarbaruah, Vice Chancellor of the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) and the man behind the centre, said, �We have been working for the past one year to set up the centre. At the centre our staff will try to provide all kinds of service to the animals. The centre will also prove helpful in long-term treatment of animals.�
Bujarbaruah informed that the centre would be expanded further in the near future with lodging facilities for animal owners. Moreover, pet owners can keep their animals there in special cases.
�We have adopted the public-private-partnership mode for this centre so that it can be maintained properly. Our staff will provide full support to the NGO. We will provide a monthly fund to the NGO and review the situation periodically,� the VC said while speaking at the inaugural function.
Veteran journalist and writer Homen Borgohain in his speech, said, �Care to animals is an integral part of Indian philosophy. But our people did not follow the practice earlier. Now some people show love to animals by following in the footsteps of their western counterparts. In this world, every creature has the right to live. So we should be kind to animals.�
Sahay president and journalist Nandan Pratim Sarma Bordoloi in his speech said, �From my childhood I was very fond of Nature. But from the first day of my life in Guwahati, I have been observing negligence to stray animals. Today I am very happy to become a part of the centre.�
Senior journalists Zarir Hussain and Maini Mahanta along with teachers and students of the College of Veterinary Science were also present at the function.
