Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 30:
The Fifth World Veterinary Day was observed at State Guest House today with Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister of State Md Alauddin Khan as the chief guest while MLA L Radhakishore and Vety & AH Commissioner Dr Suhel Akhtar (IAS) graced the occasion as the functional president and guest of honour respectively.
In his address, the chief guest acknowledging ineffectiveness of existing V&AH offices in the districts due to absence of basic infrastructures announced setting up veterinary hospitals in eight out of the nine districts within this year to mitigate inconveniences faced by the cattle owners.
In the first phase of the veterinary hospital constructions around Rs 12-13 crores would be released to which the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had also assured all possible measures to procure requisite fund, said Alauddin.
Referring to the observance, the Minister appreciated role of veterinarian describing their service as more Vital than doctors as the former have to deal with animals unlike the medical personnel whose jobs could be comparably lighter as human beings could point out the problem area.
He also called upon the unemployed youths to capitalise on assistance extended through Special Employment Generation Programme (SEGP) as the project provides enough scope to beneficiaries proposing dairy related business sojourns.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Suhel Akhtar elaborated on contributions made through Vety & AH projects in economic development of the North East region.
As Manipur lacks industrial development, opportunities provided in agriculture, veterinary and pisciculture sectors should be utilised to the full extent, he said while urging the veterinary doctors to continue their good service in eliminating problems faced by the rural people.
Besides the functional president L Radhakishore, former Additional Director of Health Services Dr M Kunjabihari Singh, Vety & AH department officials and staffs also took part in the observation.
In connection with the observation a seminar on the theme 'Veterinarian Meeting the Need of the Society' was also organised wherein several resource persons presented papers on related topic.