Where are we heading to?

Posted 13 June 2010 - 11:52am by Editor

Just go through the news reports (Translated from Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi). The comments were made by Sri C Divakaran, the Minister for Animal Husbandry while giving away the various media awards at a function organized by the Indian Veterinary Association (Kerala), Kerala State Veterinary Council and the KLD Board at Kollam on 9th June 2010.

“No contribution of veterinarians to the animal husbandry sector” –Minister for AH

(Translation from Manorama)

Kollam: Sri C Divakaran, Minister for Animal Husbandry emphatically stated that the veterinarians are raising their voice only for their pay hike or their choicest transfers, and never bother to contribute to the development of the Animal Husbandry sector. The organizations of the veterinarians are spending their energy for either fighting each other or to backstab, the minister said. The veterinarians do not have any role in the formulation of policies including the establishment of a veterinary university. The veterinarians do not try to see beyond their areas of interest and never nurture any relation with the common peasants or scientists; and there is neither research nor an eligible faculty to start the university, the Minister added.

While the doctors of health services are driving the Government to the wall to press their demands, the veterinary organizations are stooping to the levels of seeking the Minister’s permission even to stage a ‘Dharna’, he continued.

“Contribution of veterinarians to the sector is paltry” – Minister for AH

(Translation from Mathrubhoomi)

Kollam: According to Sri C Divakaran the contribution of veterinarians of Kerala is paltry to the development of veterinary science or establishment of the veterinary university. The veterinary community never bothered to hold deliberations on the academic issues but were concentrating only on their transfers and promotions and that’s why the sector is neglected and its growth decelerated, the minister said.

There are no research programmes or farmer-scientist interactions going on in this sector. And The veterinary organizations are interested only in backstabbing or confrontations among themselves. Least they could is to postpone such heinous activities, for the time being, and concentrate on the scientific and research activities, the Minister continued.

The observations were made by the Minister in command of the animal husbandry sector who was keenly watching the activities of the various organizations of veterinarians and the professionals for the last four years. The organizations have consolidated their energy and resources to host a warm welcome to the Hon. Minister, this time with special ‘Thayambaka’ and huge flex sign boards thanking him for establishing the veterinary university.

Now think aloud. Isn’t it time to clean the stables? What can be done?

Comments

vezhampalukal.

by nsukesan - 9 Jul 2010 - 8:54pm

Dreaming for heavy rain.But no rain drop. Sorry ,honourable minister, we the poor vets have no means to get recognition from higher society. We get a bite from the cured dog or a kick from a  treated cow. No media coverage for our area of work,which will be again a dark backyard of a poor farmer. A poor man living in hut in two cents of land with a cow  can only see a vet, and we are happy with his weeping eyes and sincere thanks. We hope , it will rain once.   Dr. N. Sukesan.

minister's comment

by drsudhodanan - 7 Jul 2010 - 10:50pm

Sorry my dear friends, How can the minister abstain from making such a comment if we start making such dialogs even in a humiliating situation. He is providing us with a veterinary university at the same time along with the medical university. So it is a forgivable sin. How could a man  comment about the taste of chappathi when he is depending only on pazhankanji? Let the wounded majority remember this as a back lash to improve their performance. Let it be a painful injection to cure some of our prejudice.Hard struggle strengthens the wings of a butterfly when it crawls out from the broken pupa. 

ministers statement and further.......

by udayavarman - 2 Jul 2010 - 10:53pm

the criticism hit at rt point. everybody started thinking of their contribution to profession. it is a good start.no researchers or admins are bothered about the population trend in livestock and poultry, or the milk price structure, feed cost, fodder scirce, or the required skill development in practioners of both husbandry and veterinary practice. everybody prescribes a placibo for time being.plugging the hole with dark. thanks to minister for his critical view.

Ministers comment

by Muha - 8 Jul 2010 - 6:45pm

There were three children.Elder two sisters and the  younger boy.The elder daughters were very smart.They cleared medical entrance.The poor father and mother were worried about their only son who was smart except in studies.Parents tried their level best but no improvement to him. One day mother was counselling her son while father entered.He made a comment-"Leave him alone,he is not going to become a doctor or engineer like his sisters.Anyway our daughters are lucky as he will be available to carry their luggages".The mother says her son is now  a leading medical practitioner.For us,  my dear friends, it is time not to react but to act.It is high time that we should approach the authorities and make available our services that they are expecting from us for establishing a Veterinary University.After all it is a Veterinary university and we are all proud of to be veterinarians.Instead of concentrating on  comments, why can't we take such comments in positive sense and react like that younger boy????????????????????????????????????????????????? 

let's do it...

by noushad - 30 Jun 2010 - 11:02am

Sir,

The comments by the minister need not hurt us but it should be an eye opener to us all- it is just what others think about us - whatever may be our self assessment. It is not unfair to fight for parity, but if our demand is to be justified, we have to prove ourselves. The fault is not with the profession, but with the practitioners like us. Ours is a state where food security is a big issue, and should our contribution be limited to the treatment or AI alone? What was our contribution to create an enabling environment for the development of the sector? We are treating the animals just because that many farmers rear the animals, and once they stop the activity for some or the other reason (many of which are available) we become jobless. The animal population is decreasing every year, and should we expect the government to increase the number of posts and pay scale of vets as a ritual? And what is wrong if the decision is to give prominence to para-veterinary service because most vets and para-vets are doing the same jobs, in terms of quality and nature.

If it sounds skeptical, please bear with me, this is a forum of vets and we should discuss the situation seriously. There are many exceptions to what is said above. There are vets who is a part of the development of AH sector, who have set models in their area, and who could produce visible changes in the community. I am sure that if pay scale was to be fixed by the concerned local bodies, those vets would have received scales at par with medics or even more than that. But the problem is that there are only a handful of them and most of us are quite callous, eager to reap the harvest without sowing the seeds. We are reaping the harvest of poor farmers or some active milk societies who have ventured out to the business in spite of all hardships. How many of us could be instrumental in starting an animal husbandry activity in our area or provide due support they needed it time? We have treated their animals, but, most of the time, it was on additional payment beyond the salary. How many of us could effectively utilize the opportunity which Janakeeyaasoothranam has provided? How many of us regularly upgrade the professional knowledge and skill? How many CVE programmes were conducted in a year and what was the outcome? If this is the case, what is wrong with the Minister’s statement?

We have a lot of limitations and problems. We are flooded with schemes of LSGs and Departments, and man power is so limited. It is true to a great extent, but, have we thought of the impact of our efforts? Do our schemes produce measurable impact on rural economy and if so, how much? In one Panchayath where the vet is active, I have seen a graph showing the upward trend of milk production in last 3 years. New farms have been set up there by his effort and a milk marketing system developed, and  the Panchayath has reciprocated with 18 lakhs as plan fund for AH sector-Agriculture got only 5 lakhs!!!!  I am sure that if the entire community was just like him, parity could have achieved. It is not schemes, but the impact created, that counts.

We usually complain that we have to be behind the treatment and the time constraints make it difficult to engage in other developmental activities. But, how many of us are good clinicians and what is our standard? Still a wonderful chap who can diagnose any disease at mere observation and a gentle tap on abdomen!!! No lab tests, no steth, no modern equipments and still we are the kings. I have heard a respectful leader of one of our organisations proclaiming that vets in Kerala are able to diagnose H1N1/H1N5 by intuition alone…. Wow.. its is high time to close all those labs and handover the cases to the so called Kerala vets!! We shall be ashamed to know that this wonderful statement was made in a public meeting that too in response to a guest’s remark that vets should change with the time…. Why should we change?, let the government change and give us parity, and there ends the problem…..

I belong to the 91 batch of CoVAS. When we were there, we were told about ILM 90 and gramapriya, and the achievements in virology and pathology. We were proud that Amala cancer research institute was doing research works in association with our college. Our teachers were respected persons in their fields. There were a number of eminent personalities in every department and of course, the field vets had a lot to learn and refresh from there. But sad to say that situation is not so rosy now. Just visit TANUVAS site and see the products and services they offer and feel the difference. It is not because that we don’t have problems in AH or dairy sector, but we don’t have solutions and those who should find it are behind something else. It is not proper to go beyond that. I remember that our respected teachers were behind a similar parity issue in KAU for many years and wonder whether parity can be termed as a villain for the quality degradation among us.

There should be a sea change and vets should never be a vet alone, at least some of us should be active development professionals. When the focus is more on pet treatment, we are in fact losing our ground as a catalyst of development and a player in food security. Let pet practice  develop with high standards because that is also some thing to be proud about, but we should actively involve in the development process also. There should be farm consultants,  service providers in meat sector, poultry sector, broiler farming, rabbitery, market development, export activities and cluster development in AH based activities. Let us grow and branch out in every possible directions in AH not limiting to treatment and parity. Let there be genuine research in colleges and useful outcomes to be replicated… That is what the society demands from us , and that is when what we have studied in the college becomes useful…Then, I am sure that every minister shall speak for us…

I personally feel that Respected Minister Shri. C.Divakaran  is trying his best to bring development to this sector.. but the onus is on us to take it in the right direction.. I wish him all success and hope for the best.

 

Noushad

dr noushad

Dr. M. Gangadharan Nair (Thalassery) writes

by Editor - 29 Jun 2010 - 10:47am
I am Dr. M. Gangadharannair, former General Secretary of KVSSA, IVA and AHOAK during 1992, 1997, and 1999, 2000, respectively. Unfortunately I would like to mark my comments on parity issue. A High Court case filed by Dr. Joseph Scaria and me when we were the President and Genl. Sec. of AHOAK respectively at that time.
 
The High Court Case No.was 66294/PRC.C2/2005/FIN dt. 19.07.2005. This order disposed off the petitions referred to as Exhibits P7 and P9 in O.P No. 35027/2000 (T).The last but two paragraphs states like this." I am also to inform you that the appointment of a pay commission, by the state government for the revision of pay & allowances of state government employees, pay scales etc. cannot be changed. Last but one paragraph states as, " You are therfore requested to represent your case before the newly constituted pay commission. The state government will take an apprpriate decision on all the recommendations of the pay revision commission after it is received.Signed by Mary Mathen, Deputy Secretary (Finance), FOR PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (FINANCE)
 
After this new government came, every year new office bearers for name sake coming and going. I WONDER WE HAVE THREE GREAT ORGANISATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND MEMBERS to keep their interests, but our organisational spirit is not seen in most of the members.THEY ARE RUNNING TOWARDS POLITICAL BASED GAZETTED OFFICERS ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR SERVICE PROBLEMS. HERE WHAT WE FIND IS THAT IGNORING THE BYE-LAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION,  AHOAK doingI VA 's work, seminars, group discussions etc. KVSSA is also doing similar kinds of work like painting competition. Why these service organisations not concentrating on service matters? They cannot.
 
BUT WE CAN. I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN IT. IF WE ARE UNITED TO FORM ONE SERVICE ORGANISATION,  KVSSA and AHOAK can unite together and can form a single organisation, named KERALA GOVERNMENT VETERINARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. Myself and Dr. Josephscaria was trying for that. KVSSA fully agreed on it during past years.  At the time of Kottayayam Convention. General Body had given green card for that. But very sorry to say AHOAK General body decided to form single organisation, bur one or two persons under the influence of higher authorities at that years strongly oppossed and decided to remain as AHOAK itself.  So when we discuss on parity we should think all of these matters first.
 
LOOK THE ORGANISATIONAL SET UP OF MEDICAL DOCTORS. UN COMPARABLE. They have no political based organisations, ONE PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATION, and one SERVICE ORGANISATION.
 
Leaders should show their leadership qualities and to take risks and challenges first. Not simply sitting and to say that I am the STATE PRESIDENT of Veterinary Associations. Please go though your mind on KURIOTTUMALA ISSUE during 1997. Dr. Babu jacob was thretened by a Block panchayth president Mr. Soma Pathanapuram. Our organisations creatively involved and we could achieve our expected goal. At that time Dr. T.V. Sasidharan(Trichur) and myself was the President and General Secretary of I.V.A. Kerala.
 
So please take actions to unite our service organisations first, then only we can achieve our goal of parity. Many of our vets arguing for professionsl parity through other political based associations. We are not for that . we are going on asking parity with medicos, We can goi on asking , asking, asking,.but no results we get. ANY WAY, ALL BLESSINGS AND SUPPORT FROM ME FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND PROFESSION. YOU CAN EXPECT IT FOREVER.
 
Yours Associationally,
Dr. M. Gangadharan Nair (Thalassery)

 

by noushad - 30 Jun 2010 - 10:45am

Politics is mere party politics in Indian context and we vets can't escape from it. We are knocking all  doors for parity instead of doing what should be done. Yes, as in some other incidences, a political backing may give us some advantage.So let us try in all directions in different groups, and who knows which can be fruitful... after all,  we believe in unity in diversity.

dr noushad

Great.......!

by aloysius - 27 Jun 2010 - 2:29pm

Hearty Congratulations to the Minister

The Bright Visions

by Dr.A.M.C.Menon - 27 Jun 2010 - 4:47am

The bright Visions!  Mr. C. Divakaran is a brilliant minister, conforming to the qualities of other array of ministers, and has the rare quality of long term visions. Remember the time when he suggested to relish eggs, meat and milk when the prices of rice, sugar and other commodities was shot up and people were struggling to get over the crisis? And later, as he envisaged, not a single person was diseased due to starvation and he emphasized his  statement that the public had enough money to spend for food and survive?!  As we are entirely dependent on the neighboring states for our needs, the vets have no voice against the minister. Then you may ask why agriculturists are paid more and we are neglected . The answer is clear ; they are safeguarding the ancestral property of  paddy fields from overnight filling and the university is owned by collaborative corroborators and agricultural cultivators and harvesters!!


Dr.A.M.C.Menon, New Jersey.

 

whereabouts

by Sosamma Iype - 12 Jul 2010 - 6:01pm

Dear Dr.Menon,

Where are you in NewJersey ?Dr.Abraham Varkey and myself are in Upper saddle River on a visit.my emailId is:sosammaiype@hotmail.com

DR AMCs BRIGHT VISIONS

by johnkuruvi - 1 Jul 2010 - 10:06pm

# Cheers to Dr AMC from NEW JERSEY for the humorous comments which include all meanings and our fight against the Ministers rhetorics !!! CONGRAS Dr AMC !! Hows it in NEW JERSEY ? There also Agri. Ministers DASH out ??!!!

Dr John Kuruvilla

Minister's Comment

by kanaranp - 26 Jun 2010 - 10:14pm

I dont think he meant the field veterinarian. He meant the academicians, and I feel what he said is correct but for the last 10-12 years only.Especially the last 5 years. I had been in the college during 2007-2009 and felt the situation pathetic. Big professors with small hearts harassing gifted students for some complex he felt, doing nothing but thinking about next "CAP" and fighting for "articles" too poor in quality . As far as field vet is concerned he do have very high stature in the development of kerala animal husbandry, or soceity as a whole than any other govt employee. Who else can say I with my own hands have produced 10000 calves during my 25 year service except me?

reply to dr kanaran's comment

by Dr. Stephen Mathew - 28 Jun 2010 - 11:21am

It is ridiculous to see that dr kanaran is diverting the criticism aired by the minister against all veterinarians to the academicians in the veterinary college alone. It was in the student-life period of dr kanaran, the seed of hatred against the teachers was sowed and now the student community itself, realizing the detrimental effect of enmity the seed has created, is striving hard for a warm student-teacher relationship. But, knanaran is using this opportunity to spoil it. Dear dr kanaran, it is not a great mistake from the part of teachers worrying about their long pending career advancement promotions. I have heard about many veterinarians from this college have done great things in the field of science. Many veterinarians in Kerala have done greater things to improve the productivity in the animal husbandry field and also to reduce the sufferings of poor dairy farmers. But Kanaran, I have never heard about you having done any good things to the farmers. So please stop this attitude of criticizing your own teachers and please understand that any such attitude will result only in spoiling the reputation of the entire veterinary profession. Let us collectively face the criticism and project the image of all vets

Congrats to Rajeswary and Jacob Alexander

Recently I saw them in a TV doing operation in a cobra.

Definitely this kind of news will boost up our image.Hearty congratulations to them.

Dr. Stephen Math

Dr. Stepehen Mathew

by Mohan - 9 Aug 2010 - 10:03am

I do not understand what was wrong in Kanaran's statements. Please tell us your contributions to the field of Veterinary Science. Also please understand that there is big difference between Animal husbandry oriented veterinary science curriculum- an extension of crop husbandry and the modern veterinary medicine designed to cater the needs of companion animals and horses. What we have is neither of them. That is the problem. The about career politicians like the minister, after all who is this Joker, came to politics through the affirmative action based on communal politics. Why should any one care about these college and high school drop outs.

Dear Friends: Sometime last year, one of our class mates settled in the USA, came back to visit the college. He has been religiously coming to the college on his regular/irregular visits to Kerala. He used to be very critical about the college, the<

Clarification

by kanaranp - 28 Jun 2010 - 10:52pm

I dont mean any thing personal. But still the truth remain. What I said was that according to the minister 1. Vets in Kerala do not have much tu claim in the advancement of veterinary science . 2. The state of Veterinary research in Kerala is pathetic. Both these are correct. and who is responsible? Surely not the field vets. They are supposed to practise the results of research by the academics and this practice may come some 5-10 years after the results of research are published.The veterinary college of 70's and 80's was great and the achievements of this period we were reaping till now. But now we must have to go further, but nobody is there to lead with his results of research. I said the situation is pathetic since about 10-12 years especially for the last 5 years. I just remember an article published in JIVA entitled "Veterinary college revisited" I would advise Dr Stephen Mathew to read it or atleast tell your PG student to read it and tell you what is written in it. You cannot escape from the truth by just covering it up. Face it. and correct the situation. That is what is to be done. Regarding the comments about me by Dr stephen Mathew . I do not have much big claims.But I have the 10000 calves as my children. They might have produced 1200 lakh litres of milk. Not a bad achievement, I feel. And every field vet do have this achievement.Regarding me sowing the seed of hatred against the teachers, It was true I was in the forefront in forming a progressive student organisation in veterinary college. But that was more an idealistic movement, not against the teachers as Dr Stephen who was himself a student at that time  or others like him who never was part of it thought. But the present situation is interesting. I found a " a real pinthirippan moorachi" at that time as the " Karl Marx" of present day veterinary college. Many of the teachers are active politicians, but not for the society, but for themselves. I still respect great teachers and great men like Krishnan Nair sir and Nirmalan Sir and many many others.Really I did not find such respect to many of the present day teachers who live just like the old frog who lived in the well thinking that a professor in veterinary college is equal to the Chief Secretary of Kerala . May be it can be higher , but not in the administrative meaning. I am very sorry if I used harsh words. But the truth still remains. I have nothing against Dr. stephen Mathew or any other present day academicians, but just think running an AI network  parrellal to AHD and several others is not that much a big research. And you know, A PG student must have to pay Rs 100/ from his own pocket to dispose his reasearch animal to the official who is drawing his salary exactly for the same thing. There are several other interesting things in the present day veterinary college, but things have changed since the last two- three months. Hope it will turn much better. 

Dr. Kanaran's comments

by Dr Biju P Habeeb - 30 Jun 2010 - 11:27pm

Dear Kanaran Sir,

This is highly unfortunate...I think this medium is not meant for these type of comments. Please compromise your feelings..

Not Personal

by Dr.P.P.Kanaran - 27 Mar 2011 - 10:47pm

Just read the clarification. Nothing was personal and with good intention

PLEASE BE CAREFUL

by dr_nirmal - 5 Jul 2010 - 10:58pm

I ASSUME THAT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT MEDIA FOR IN-FIGHTS. DO USE IT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION

http://nirmalbalakrishnan.wetpaint.com

AH Ministers statement on09/06/2010.

by antony rudolf - 26 Jun 2010 - 7:28pm

It is very sad to know the statement made by the honourable minister is far from truth.Proably he may not be aware that India is number one in milk production in the world.This is a remarkable achievement made by the country for which ever vet has contributed his/her mite.This particular minister is famous for his loose talk and people in Kerala are well aware of.Though Kerala is hundred percent literate state many are yet to learn the soft skills and basic etiquette.

Comment from Dr.K.R.Panicker, Alappuzha

by Editor - 26 Jun 2010 - 5:20pm

I find some truth in it  Let us think it with "Admardhatha".   Where ever we go,  we have only one thing to request -  "PARITY". Do we deserve it on any basis? Had we spoken about upgrading the veterinary study curriculam to that of the medicos or any programme to improve the technical knowledge in any field ? Let us come to the mesdicos's standard of study and work and then bargain for parity.This is my  opinion. Thrroughout my service of over 30 years, I have heard only about pay and parity, nothing about quality education or technical work. Sorry if i have injured any body.

Dr. K.R. Ramachandra Panicker, Alappuzha  panicker98@gmail.com

Are we commited to the oath we have taken?

by dr_nirmal - 17 Jun 2010 - 10:49pm

A minister can tell this and much more because he can comment and we can just listen and can not repond. That is the reality. But this has opened a debate about how commited the vets are to the famers in the AH .  

http://nirmalbalakrishnan.wetpaint.com

ASSESMENT of VETs by MINISTER

by johnkuruvi - 14 Jun 2010 - 8:33am

While we cannot fully AGREE with the minister's comments, we can see some naked FACTS. The COORDINATION ,was poor between Vet organisations in actions relating to the proposals of developments and their needs. We lacked a fully dedicated TEAM including Veteran Experienced Vets and scientists to guide the Vet organiosations, while other sister organisations like IMA turned to hear them in their actions.But we cannot welcome Ministers rhetoric as such.He should not have spoke like that since he was the RESPONSIBLE minister for the last 4 years !!!

Dr JOHN KURUVILLA,Tiruvalla