Punjab Post Daily Online Newspaper & Print Media
Amritsar, October 22 (Punjab Post Bureau)- Country’s top veterinary scientists today called upon Union government to initiate national legislation to reserve and protect grazing lands for the cattle in India. They gave a clarion call to the centre and state governments for making serious efforts for livestock development as the shrinking lands are proving fatal for cattle and animals’ health and survival.
The veterinary experts and academicians including vice chancellors of eight veterinary universities in the country are converged here for the two-day long deliberation on “Sustainable Livestock Development for Food and Nutritional Security: way forward”, organized by National Academy of Veterinary Sciences (NAVS at Khalsa College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (KCVAS), here.
Chief Guest Dr. MP Yadav in his inaugural address said the country has highest number of livestock in the world and is leading milk producer. “But we are way behind to exploit the total potential of the country in milk production and other milk based food development. The declining availability of the land is proving fatal for animal health and even survival. There is a emergency like situation but ironically national and state governments are yet to wake up to the scenario’’, said he.
Yadav, who is founder President of NAVS, advocated strong need for livestock development which he said will help the nation to overcome the challenge of malnutrition amongst the children and mothers. “The demand for protein can be met only if we have healthy livestock available and for this we have to take drastic measures’’, he said emphasizing on indigenous breeds of cattle, cloning, use of high grade semen, treatment of infectious diseases and provision diagnostic facilities.
The delegates were earlier welcomed on the campus by Khalsa University Chancellor Satyajit Singh Majithia and Khalsa College Charitable Society honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and Principal Dr.SK Jand. They called the academic interaction a rare opportunity for the veterinary academicians to interact on vital issues of livestock development. President of the NAVS Prof. KML Pathak, also vice chancellor of Veterinary University, Mathura lauded the efforts of the management, Principal and faculty of KCVAS to have taken bold initiative.
Dr. AS Nanda, vice chancellor Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) also spoke in detail about the need for scientific development and policy driven impetus for livestock development. The NAVS conferred fellowship upon Dr. S Thilagar, VC, TANUVAS, Chennai, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Dr. VK Saxena, Dr. AK Tiwari, Dr. RC Patra, and Dr. LD Singla for their scientific work in the field.
Major Gen (Rtd) Dr. Shrikant, Dr. AK Gahlot, Dr. PD Juyal, Dr. RK Singh VCI office bearer Dr. Gurdial Singh, NAVS generals secretary Dr. Rishendra Verma were present. KCVAS was also declared to be the institutional member, first as a private run college to NAVS. The other eminent speakers during symposium included Dr. RK Singh, Directors-cum VC, IVRI, Dr. Bhushan Tyagi, Joint Commissioner Animal Husbandry, Govt. of India.
