Prof R N Sreenivasa Gowda, Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) was conferred with the ‘Fellow of National Academy of Veterinary Sciences,’ here on Thursday.

Dr S K Ranjan, President of NAVS ( New Delhi) while admitting Prof Gowda as a Fellow, by presenting him with a scroll said, the significant contribution of the VC  to veterinary sciences had made the academy established in 1993 to confer this year’s fellowship to Prof Gowda.

“NAVS has among its objectives  a mandate to recognise the merit  of academics in the profession. So, this year we thought it apt to admit Prof Gowda.

He is the only person from Karnataka to be conferred the fellowship this year. As many as 27 eminent veterinarians from other parts of the country and 11 from abroad have also been admitted as fellow,” said Dr Ranjan.

Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, Prof B K Chandrashekhar said, NAVS though established 14 years ago in New Delhi, did not have its own premises.

“The NAVS in spite of having the best veterinary experts, their services have not been utilised to the fullest possible extent,” he said. Speaking on the SEZ controversy, Prof Chandrashekhar said farmers apprehensions were understandable in hesitating giving up their  land at Nandagudi for the proposed special economic zone (SEZ).

SEZ issue

He rued the way the Government went about on the SEZ issue. “This has made farmers come out and express their ire on the way the ruling coalition handled the Nandagudi SEZ controversy.

It is not just about acquiring land. The livelihood of farmers who have been dependent on agriculture for generations will be affected,” he added.

Prof R N Sreenivasa Gowda, vice-chancellor of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) in Bidar who was conferred with the ‘Fellow of National Academy of Veterinary Sciences’ (New Delhi), told Deccan Herald on Thursday, he was privileged to have been admitted as a fellow.

“The NAVS decided to admit me. If they have decided to admit me based on my contribution to veterinary sciences. I am humbled and elated by the decision” he said.

Prof Gowda said the KVAFSU would establish a veterinary college each in Shimoga and Hassan, a dairy science college at Gulbarga, animal vaccine research institute in Belgaum, an institute of toxicology and research in Shimoga and a specialised institute of  wildlife and veterinary medicine at Coorg.

“These institutes would be established within the next one year and affiliated to the varsity at Bidar. The state government had allotted Rs 45 crore in this year’s budget. These funds will be utilised for these projects” added Prof Gowda.