A boost to veterinary studies in the State
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Kerala is expected to soon have a University for Veterinary and Animal Sciences. J. S. BABLU explains why the need for such a university has been felt for long, and outlines its scope.
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Kerala’s efforts to have a University for Veterinary and Animal Sciences would bear fruit soon.
A decision on setting up the university is expected to be taken by the State Cabinet soon and it would be coming up on the sprawling campus of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookkode in Wayanad district.
Among the southern States, Kerala is the only State which does not have a veterinary university.
Statistics show that more than 40 per cent of the total income from agriculture in the State is from livestock rearing.
“This sector has already acquired the status of a self and subsidiary employment avenue for thousands of youths and landless labourers in the State. Livestock farming provides continuous employment throughout the year,” observes T.P. Sethumadhavan, assistant director, Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) and visiting scientist, the U.S.
Theodore John, president, Kerala Veterinary Surgeons Service Association, says that Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), under the Agriculture Department, faces several constraints in carrying out research, teaching and extension activities and coordinating the various institutions under the Animal Husbandry Department.
“Tamil Nadu had established the first Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in 1989, after having visualised such a scene there,” Mr. John says. According to Mr. John, once the university is set up, it will come under the administrative control of the Department of Animal Husbandry (DAH) and Department of Dairy Development.
Areas of activity
Education, research and extension are the mandatory areas of activity of the university. Research and development contributions are to be extended to the beneficiaries through various government departments — Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development — various boards, corporations and other institutions. Integration of activities is difficult currently as veterinary institutions are under the Agriculture Department, he says.
Mr. Sethumadhavan notes that the university could also address the issue of brain drain in the sector. Recently, veterinary graduates are opting for the U.S., the U.K. or Canada for doctoral and post doctoral research. “After their research period they intend to work in the respective foreign countries. The research potential of veterinary scientists can be effectively utilised in the State by starting the Veterinary University. It can formulate need-based education, research and extension programmes to cater to the increasing need of employment, food security and research priorities of the State,” he says.
The university, once established, would be able to coordinate the education institutes under the KAU, institutions which are currently under DAH and the public sector units like the Dairy Development Board, MILMA, Kerala Livestock Development Board and Meat Products of India. Such coordination cannot have an optimum effect if the veterinary education institutions remain under KAU.
The thinking on the lines of a separate university had started from the time of the previous government. The Oommen Chandy government had appointed a committee headed by Vijay Paul Sharma of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
The then Animal Husbandry Secretary Subratha Biswas was appointed the special officer. The committee had submitted its report.
It was followed by a report by Subbiah, Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, to the LDF government in February 2007.
Extra expense limited
Currently, there are two veterinary colleges under KAU. Once the university is set up, the staff and faculty of these colleges will be separated from the administrative control of KAU. The new university will incur only limited expenses on the government.
Mr. John says that the association had submitted a total additional requirement of Rs.20 crore spread over a period of five years.
The State Planning Commission had agreed to the proposal and the Finance Department had also okayed almost all the proposals.
“The major share of this expenditure pertains to the cost of filling up the posts of teachers. It should be noted that the Veterinary Council of India regulates the academic standards of the veterinary courses as well as the infra-structural facilities of the institution. These mandatory requirements are obligatory even in the existing university system so as to retain the recognition of the course,” he says. At present there are 140 teachers in the faculty. The minimum requirement as per norms is 260. This means that an additional 120 teachers will have to be recruited.
In the proposal, this recruitment is envisaged to be completed within five years at a rate of 24 a year. This requires an annual additional expenditure of Rs.85 lakh.
Veterinary academicians point out that the establishment of the university will facilitate better funding by the Union government. An Indian Council of Veterinary Research (ICVR) on the lines of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research will soon be formed. ICVR’s priority will be to fund veterinary institutions directly, than routing the funds through agricultural universities.
The soon-to-be-set-up university can also look for funds from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and from premier research institutions. Thus, more funds will be available for veterinary-related activities in the State.
Apart from the graduate programmes, the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, offers 20 postgraduate (PG) courses. Also, it offers Ph.D. in 16 disciplines.
The College of Dairy Science and Technology, Mannuthy, offers B.Tech. in dairy science and technology. The Pookode College will offer 10 postgraduate courses from next academic year. Now there are only graduate programmes at the Pookode College.
Para-veterinary
Apart from the present programmes, the university could offer para-veterinary courses in veterinary pharmacy. There could be new degree, diploma and certificate courses of higher standards. It could offer MBA in agri-business management, bio-technology and bio-informatics as higher study options.
Academicians in this sector point out that the growth in pet population may lead to establishment of hi-tech hospitals in the veterinary sector. Those who study para-veterinary courses can find employment in these hospitals and elsewhere as veterinary nurses and veterinary farm assistants.
Short, medium and long-term community linked developmental projects through local self government institutions can also be organised. The university could easily link with universities and research institutions in the country and abroad.
Foreign institutions would be willing to fund a university-set up rather than an institution under another university.
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