Hit by vacancies, veterinary department in pathetic state

A pig lays bare along with its newborns in a shed in recently opened Pig Breeding Centre in Kalasa hobli, Chikkamagaluru district.

The sow is being attended to by only two workers, who are on contract basis, in the absence of a veterinarian.

The Centre, which has been set up at an estimated expenditure of several lakhs of rupees, is hit by lack of adequate staff, with a whopping nine posts remaining to be filled. It includes one each of veterinarian and veterinary inspector as well as seven ‘D’ group employees.

The situation is no different in other parts of the hobli, with many posts remaining to be filled at Samse, Horanadu, Hirebailu and Baalehole.

According to an estimate, Kalasa hobli alone accounts for over 9,000 livestock that includes cattle, sheep and poultry, besides pigs, stray dogs to name a few. Most of the families are dependent on animal husbandry for their livelihood, yet the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services lacks full staff strength. For record, only four permanent staff remain in job at the hobli. The posts of veterinary doctors remain to be filled at Kalasa, Samse, Horanadu, Hirebailu and Baalehole.

Kalasa alone has 3,000 livestock and one each of the post of assistant director and veterinary officer remains vacant. So also two group ‘D’ posts. A veterinary inspector and lone ‘D’ group worker are managing the affairs here on deputation.

Also, although a veterinarian from Jannapura was tasked to address the requirements at Kalasa, he is burdened with additional responsibilities at Baalehole, Horanadu, Hirebailu and Niduvale.

At Horanadu, where the cattle population has touched 800, one each of a veterinarian’s and inspector’s posts are vacant, followed by two ‘D’ group workers posts. So also at Baalehole that has 1,200 livestock and the posts of a veterinarian and two ‘D’ group workers are vacant. At Samse, it is in the order of 2,600 cattle, one veterinary assistant and ‘D’ group worker. At Hirebailu with 1,800 cattle, the post of veterinary assistant is not filled yet.

The existing staff is involved in multitasking travelling long to perform duties. It includes artificial insemination, deliveries and also arranging for post-mortem.

Assistant Director for Veterinary at Moodigere taluk Venugopal told Deccan Herald, “Only three veterinarians are working against a total of 15 sanctioned posts in Moodigere taluk alone. The higher-ups are seized of the issue and the vacancies are expected to be filled after the next drive.”

Communist Party of India (CPI) taluk unit secretary Gopal Shetty said, “It has been decided to lay siege to the veterinary hospital at Kalasa on August 21. A procession will be taken out along with cattle, as the officials are singing the same tune from the past two years.”
DH News Service