MOHALI: The State executive of 'Joint Action Committee of Vets for pay parity' is all set for its stormy meet at Ludhiana on 11th January as despite assurances of Government prior to by-elections, the pay parity of Vets with their counterparts in health department which was disturbed by the previous government had not been restored till date.
The JAC had earlier planned to hold a protest march at Gidderbaha on 10th November to show resentment against the dithering by Punjab government. Veterinary Officers, Senior Veterinary Officers, Assistant directors, Deputy Directors, retired Animal husbandry Officers and students of three Veterinary Colleges in the state were to reach Gidderbaha in large numbers to hold protest march. At that time, following government's assurance and timing of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination to livestock, the JAC had suspended the agitation in interest of livestock farmers of the State.
Convener of Joint Action Committee (JAC) Dr Gurcharan Singh 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 which was accorded to them by virtue of order of Punjab and Haryana High Court, upheld by Supreme Court of India also, be restored with immediate effect.
The Convener JAC , Dr Gurcharan Singh and Co-conveners Dr Puneet Malhotra, Dr Abdul Mazid , Dr Gurdeep Singh and Dr Harmandeep Singh flayed the government for not sticking to its own commitments. They said, it is very unfortunate on the part of the AAP government that it was ignoring genuine demand of Vets of Punjab, due to which they were forced to resume their protest.