Pact to start academic programmes for posts in zoos, vet

An animal welfare body under the Environment Ministry today signed a pact with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to conduct academic programmes on animal welfare sciences, aimed at preparing competent manpower for various posts in zoos and veterinary hospitals.
More than 200 students are expected to be enrolled for diploma and certificate courses in the first year. The total cost of the project for the first year is Rs 88 lakh.
The pact was signed between National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW) and JNU. The MoA was signed by JNU VC M Jagdish Kumar and Joint Secretary of Environment Ministry Anil Sant in the pressence of HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

"Such courses are being conducted in countries like Australia and New Zealand and now will be conducted by JNU in NIAW campus. Introduction of this course will help in preparing competent manpower to man various posts in zoos, municipalities, slaughter houses and veterinary hospitals," Javadekar said.
He said that his ministry has sought JNU as an academic partner to help NIAW develop academic programmes according to national needs and global standards in the field of animal welfare.
The courses are aimed at providing a direction to youth for employment in the sector.
"JNU is a university that has name and credibility in academic activities and launching of this course is a good beginning for expanding its academic activities," Irani said on the occasion.

NIAW was set up to meet the education and training needs of the animal welfare sector across the country and it has launched short-term courses in 2005, which has so far trained more than 1,000 personnel.