MOHALI: Peeved at the nonchalant attitude of the Punjab Government toward the demand of Veterinarians to restore their pay parity with medical officers, the Vets under the aegis of 'Joint Action Committee for pay parity ', held dharnas at Veterinary Polyclinics across the State at all the district headquarters. All treatment , elective surgeries and testing /collection of blood and other samples were suspended for the day. Although, emergency and vetero-legal cases were attended.
Veterinary Officers, Senior Veterinary Officers, Assistant directors, Deputy Directors and retired Animal husbandry Officers joined the 'Sit-in'.
Addressing the gathering, the speakers strongly condemned the government for employing delaying tactics due to which the whole cadre of Vets was deeply anguished and demanded that their over four decade old parity with medicos be restored Immediately.
They reminded that the government had earlier scheduled the meeting of JAC with Finance Minister on September 17 but not materialized, then it was scheduled with Ministers' Sub Committee on September 27, which was again postponed to October 22 2024.
The Convener JAC , Dr Gurcharan Singh and Co-conveners Dr Puneet Malhotra, Dr Abdul Mazid , Dr Gurdeep Singh and Dr Harmandeep Singh flayed the incumbent government for repeatedly postponing the meetings and for not sticking to its own promises/commitments. They said, it is very unfortunate on the part of the incumbent government for ignoring genuine demands of Vets of Punjab. Our faith in the present government started waning because this government is even delaying the rectification of false activities of previous Congress government.
It was also decided that another protest dharna will be held in similar fashion on October 21 also and on that day, all work including OPDs will be stopped, except emergency cases in Punjab and protest marches will also be held.