GUWAHATI, Nov 13 � The Assam Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service Association (AAHVSA) will observe a sit-in demonstration in front of the Directorate of the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary at Chenikuthi here on November 17 as a mark of protest if the Government fails to take steps to fulfil the demands of the association by November 15.
In a press release, AAHVSA president Dr Debananda Adhikary and general secretary Dr Pranjit Baruah said the association has decided to take to the agitational path as the Government has not taken serious steps to solve issues concerning the developmental aspects of the department.
The major demands of the association include filling up of all vacant promotional cadre posts (veterinary surgeon onwards to director) as per the provisions of the departmental service rules, revival of the Regional Feed Testing Laboratory (RFTL) at Khanapara, immediate steps to start functioning of the Officers Training Institute (OTI) at Khanapara and the Regional Institute of Livestock Entrepreneurship Management (RILEM) at Rani, supply of livestock and poultry feed to the breeders and farmers at subsidised rate under the Public Distribution System (PDS), check in encroachment of land at veterinary institutions by erecting boundary walls, etc.
The press release stated that the RFTL is the only and unique institution in the entire Northeast for chemical analysis and testing of livestock and poultry feed, but due to its non-functioning for quite some time, private parties have been taking advantage, supplying low quality feed with exorbitant prices. Besides, the non-functioning of the departmental feed mill, located at Khanapara for years together, has been adversely affecting the poor farmers of the State in the rearing and management of their livestock and poultry for their economic uplift.
The government has also not taken proper steps to start the functioning of the OTI and RILEM for which the officers and field veterinarians in different disciplines are not being able to cope up with the changing environment of livestock technology as also entrepreneurship development in the right perspective, added the association�s president and general secretary. They also expressed concern over the government attitude of not taking any interest in filling up the vacant posts in the department.
