Punjab Vets set to confront AAP govt on bye-election pitch
MOHALI: The Veterinary doctors of the Animal Husbandry Department have decided to hold a State-level protest and a massive rally in Tarn Taran on Nov 2, ahead of the upcoming by-election.
Dr Gurcharan Singh, Convener of the Joint Action Committee of Vets for Pay-Parity (JAC), stated that veterinary doctors across Punjab have been struggling for the last four and a half years for the restoration of pay parity with medical doctors and the reinstatement of the 4-9-14 Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme. The pay parity, which had been maintained between veterinary and medical doctors for 42 years, was erroneously disturbed by the previous government in January 2021. The government reduced the initial pay scale of veterinary doctors from Rs 56, 100/- to Rs 47, 600/- , in the process breaking the pay parity with medical doctors. The veterinary doctors of Punjab are now on the path of agitation to get this scale restored to Rs. 56, 100/-.
Under this agitation, protests were held outside the offices of all Deputy Directors across Punjab on July 29, this year, and subsequently, a state-level protest and a large rally against the government were organized at Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh's ancestral village, Khatkar Kalan, District Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr), on Aug 11.
Dr. Gurcharan Singh mentioned that the JAC had planned the next phase of the agitation, but it was postponed when the state of Punjab was severely hit by floods. "The JAC prioritized its moral responsibility towards the livestock owners and their precious speechless animals, urging the veterinary doctors to provide their tireless and valuable services", he added. "The veterinary doctors of Punjab responded by working day and night to not only save the livestock from the flood disaster but also ensure that no disease spread across the state".
The Animal Husbandry Minister was informed by the JAC at that time that the protest was being temporarily suspended due to the floods. After the floods, requests for a meeting with the Minister were made again and again, but no response was received from his side. In this instance, the Minister of the Department failed to fulfill his responsibility to ensure due respect for the veterinary doctors of Punjab.
Due to this non-challant attitude of the government, the JAC has announced a state-level protest and rally in Tarn Taran on 02-11-2025, Sunday, before the Tarn Taran by-election.
The Co-conveners of the JAC, Dr. Puneet Malhotra and Dr. Abdul Majid, said that earlier, the JAC had held meetings with the senior officials of the Animal Husbandry Department and the Animal Husbandry Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. Several meetings were also held with the Sub-Committee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. The agitation was postponed many times based on the assurances given by the government. However, despite all this, the veterinary doctors have only received false promises and temporary assurances.
The Coordinator of the JAC, Dr. Tejinder Singh, said that state governments including Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi Government, Central Government, Indian Army, BSF, Rajasthan, and Odisha, are giving Rs. 56, 100 pay scale to Veterinary Officers, at par with Medical Officers. However, the Punjab Government is giving the veterinary doctors a scale of Rs. 47, 600. This step-motherly treatment towards veterinary doctors is unacceptable. The decisions of the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court of India are also being overlooked.
The media Advisor of the JAC, Dr. Gurinder Singh Walia, said that it is a matter of great shame that the government has left no option for the educated class of society, the veterinary doctors who understand the ailments of speechless animals, treat them, and cure them, but to take to the streets for ignoring their genuine demands. He informed that Veterinary Officers, Senior Veterinary Officers, Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors, and retired veterinary doctors of the Animal Husbandry Department will participate in this protest to be organized in Tarn Taran on Sunday, Nov 2.