Jayachandra to meet Pawar on vet college row

Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that he would meet Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in New Delhi on Tuesday to find a solution to the admission imbroglio in the government-run veterinary colleges in Hassan and Shimoga, after the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) cancelled recognition of the two colleges citing poor infrastructure facilities.

Replying to the issue raised by Leader of the Opposition H D Kumaraswamy, Jayachandra said he would also seek relief for 71 students who had passed out of the two veterinary colleges, but have been left in the lurch as their degrees have now been derecognised. The move has come as a bolt from the blue for the students as they were on the verge of getting recruited for the 381 posts of veterinary doctors.

Jayachandra pointed out that Rs 85 crore had been spent for infrastructure facilities in the two colleges. The government would try to convince the VCI that all facilities would be provided and the government should be allowed to continue admission process in the two colleges for the current academic year, Jayachandra said.