MOHALI: peeved at the lackadaisical attitude of AAP government towards demand of Veterinarians of Animal Husbandry department Punjab to restore parity of Vets with medical/Dental Officers, the Punjab Joint Action Committee of Vets for pay parity , in a press conference held here on tuesday, served an ultimatum on Punjab government to do the needful otherwise Artificial insemination work in cattle and buffaloes will also be boycotted from 1st of August.
The Convenor of the Joint Action Committee for pay parity Dr Gurcharan Singh and co-conveners Dr. Puneet Malhotra and Dr. Abdul Majid lamented that previous Animal Husbandry Ministers Sh Kuldeep Dhaliwal and Sh Laljit Singh Bhullar had been time and again assuring them that the injustice meted out to them would be undone, but nothing fruitful matured. They added that the present Minister Sh Gurmeet Singh Khudian was also apprised of their genuine demand who had also assured to do the needful but to no avail. The pay parity which was in place for the last over 40 years and was secured following a judgement of Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court had been disturbed by a Clerical mischief during the last government when it was on the way out.
They urged the Chief Minister Sh Bhagwant Singh Mann and Sh Khuddian to intervene in the matter to ensure justice for their fraternity.
Convenor Dr Gurcharan Singh announced that from 1st August, in second phase of agitation, Artificial Insemination in cattle and buffaloes will be boycotted completely, if their issue is not resolved by then and the responsibility for that shall lie with the government. It is pertinent to mention that the first phase of agitation had started on 25th June in which all extension and other camps had been boycotted.
Disillusioned with lowering of salary and doing away with Dynamic Assured Career Progression scheme, many Veterinary officers were seeking VRS ( Voluntary Retirement Scheme) and emigrating to foreign countries where their skill is duly recognized not only in government but also in private sector.
They added that livestock sector had great potential to boost the economy of farmers and the Veterinarians were connected with them at grassroot level, hence they could play pivotal role in uplifting the rural economy.
Prominent among others present during the conference were Drs Tejinder Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Harmandeep Singh and Nitin Gautam.