The State government will soon appoint more than 250 veterinary doctors, said Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra on Sunday.
Speaking after the inauguration of the veterinary doctors’ technical conference and session organised by the Karnataka State Government Association of Veterinary Doctors, the minister said: “There is a shorage of veterinary doctors in Karnataka. Already around 331 doctors have been appointed and after discussing with the Finance department, 250 more will be recruited.”
The minister criticised the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services for not restructuring the department despite his orders and set a deadline of two-and-half months’ time.
He said: “It has been six months since the department was directed to appoint 1,064 veterinary assistants, but the commissioner has not taken any steps. The deserving candidates should be given appointment letters at the earliest.” He said, at present the educational qualification for veterinary assistants is SSLC and in the coming days, the minimum qualification will be PU or an equivalent course. Jayachandra said that thousands of acres belonging to the department have been encroached upon and the department is striving to recover the land and is exploring legal options as well.
Emphasising the need to provide more facilities to the department, Jayachandra said: “Veterinary practitioners working in the rural parts will be provided with adequate facilities. Soon fodder development centres will be set up at taluk level and farmers will be trained in developing fodder varieties. We will also take steps to increase allowance to the veterinarians.”
The association president, R K Chaluvayya, said that around 3,000 ‘D’ group posts are vacant and shortage of staff has affected work in rural areas.
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