Punjab Rural Veterinary Officers threaten stir

About 400 Rural Veterinary Officers (RVOs) of Punjab, who alleged that they were being "misused" by the Animal Husbandry department, threatened to launch a stir if their demand for a separate directorate under the Rural Development and Panchayats Ministry was not met.
The RVOs work under the Rural Development and Panchayats Ministry, but the Animal Husbandry department keeps getting its works done from them, they said here today.
"The Animal Husbandry department had systematically misused the officers by engaging them in their projects.
"But when it comes to financial grants to upgrade around 582 rural civil vet hospitals which are in shambles, the department washes its hands of," said Dr Naveep S Khinda, President of Rural Veterinary Officers Association (RVOA).

The RVOs had, therefore, decided to boycott the Animal Husbandry department and would not take part in any of its projects or meetings, he said.
The veterinary doctors threatened to launch an agitation is their demand was not accepted by the state government.

The RVOs said they were planning to meet the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Panchayats Minister over the issue.
The doctors said the Animal Husbandry department had been completing its projects with their support and getting huge funds from the state, Central governments and NABARD for development works, but had never shown the magnanimity to share funds with rural vet hospitals.

Dr Puneet Malhotra, General Secretary of RVOA, said, "The only solution to all these problems is a separate directorate for RVOs' and vet hospital staff under the Rural Development and Panchayats Ministry."
He further added, "We are in no mood to give up and we will rest only when our demand of a separate directorate is met by the state government.