(IN): No vets to save dying animals

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/No-vets-to-save-dying-animals/artic\

leshow/4493036.cms

No vets to save dying animals

7 May 2009, 0313 hrs IST, MANU AIYAPPA, TNN

 

BANGALORE: When hospitals for human beings are often in bad shape, it

appears no one is even bothered about those for ailing

animals<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/No-vets-to-save-dying-anima\

ls/articleshow/4493036.cms#>.

 

 

That sums up the state government's attitude with regard to the maintenance

of its veterinary hospitals in Karnataka.

 

According to official sources, more than 75% of veterinary hospitals and

dispensaries across Karnataka are either defunct or badly equipped. The

situation is alarming considering the threat of swine flu looms large over

the country and farmers with livestock urgently need the services of

veterinarians.

 

Worse, of the 4,110 government veterinary institutions, at least 50% don't

have a veterinarian. Also, acute shortage of livestock assistants has badly

affected the animal husbandry department.

 

Senior animal husbandry officials in Bangalore said the department recently

initiated steps to appoint 300 veterinarians through the Karnataka Public

Service Commission (KPSC). This may not solve the problem, as it will only

fill 5% of the existing vacancies.

 

A senior official felt the department won't be able to appoint 300

veterinary officials at one go, as there aren't that many unemployed

veterinarians in the state.

 

About 200

doctors<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/No-vets-to-save-dying-anima\

ls/articleshow/4493036.cms#>graduate

every year from the two veterinary colleges in Bangalore and Bidar,

but the state has over 1,000 vacancies. Also, over 50% of the veterinary

graduates don't work in the state and most seek employment abroad. Those

appointed have either given up or run parallel practices to

supplement<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/No-vets-to-save-dying-an\

imals/articleshow/4493036.cms#>their

pitiable income.

 

Constraints of space and infrastructure are slowly snuffing the life out of

district and taluk dispensaries. While several hospitals function from a

rented premises which are not suitable for installing modern infrastructure

or caring for livestock.

 

On an average, about 15-20 cases are reported in each dispensary and 50-60

in general veterinary hospitals. Pets and domesticated livestock are brought

from different areas to these hospitals.

 

According to an estimate, about 8 lakh animals die every year because of

lack of

medication<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/No-vets-to-save-dying-an\

imals/articleshow/4493036.cms#>.

A farmer leader Mallesh from Chamarajnagar complained that farmers who visit

these hospitals daily with their livestock had to purchase medicines from

private chemists as they were not available in the hospitals.

 

 

 

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