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[Dr. Puneet]

[Dr. Puneet]

Now, contractual vets join the protest chorus

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 18

After pharmacists and ETT teachers working under zila parishad, the rural veterinary doctors, who were appointed on a contract basis, today decided to choose the agitation path if their demands for the regularisation of their jobs are not met.

Disgruntled over the apathetic attitude of the state government, the Punjab State Veterinary Doctors Association (PSVDA), headed by Dr Navdeep Singh Khinda, president of the association, said “It’s been over three years that the SAD has come to power, yet, it has failed to fulfill its promise to regularise them.”

“During the Congress regime, when we were on a fast unto death agitation, senior Akali leaders, including the Badal family had visited the site and promised to regularise our jobs as soon as they came to power. But even after three years of the SAD-BJP combine in power, they (Akali leaders) have turned a blind eye towards our genuine demands. Instead, they are busy publishing false statements in the media that veterinary doctors are satisfied with their jobs,” said Dr Khinda.

At present, there are as many as 682 veterinary hospitals under the panchayat raj department, while there are only 425 rural veterinary officers working on a contract basis in these hospitals.

Dr Gagandeep Singh Dhillon, press secretary of the association, pointed out that the state government appointed approximately 300 doctors about four years ago and the number reached to 425 in the following years.

According to a survey conducted by the department in 2009, the number of milch animals is decreasing by 10 percent every year, which is likely to have an adverse impact on milk production in the coming years, said Dr Dhillon.

The association president, while detailing, said overall, RVOs were paid Rs 26,000 as salary out of which Rs 5,000 is given to the pharmacist and Rs 2,500 to class four employees as salary. Thus, the doctor receives only have Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000 as salary per month.

“What is more disappointing is that we are not entitled to any increment, CPF, TA/DA or promotions during our service,” said Dr Khinda.

The association threatened to gherao the Chief Mininster, Deputy Chief Minister and other ministers of the state cabinet in Chandigarh, if the government fails to call them for talks on the issue within a week.

Edited September 19, 2010 by Dr. Puneet