Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has decided to start Diploma Course for Veterinary Pharmacists from the session 2010. The course will be started at Veterinary Polytechnic Kaljharani, District Bathinda. Dr.Simrat Sagar Singh, Dean, College of Veterinary Science informed that the prospectus for diploma course will be available from the office of Dean, College of Veterinary Science, GADVASU, Ludhiana. The diploma has been started to raise human resources for assisting the Veterinarians of the State Animal Husbandry Department and Rural Development Department. The diploma course will be of two years duration and the session will commence from 1st September, 2010. During the academic session 2010, 40 students from 10+2 (Medical stream) will be admitted. Dr. Singh informed that the diploma holders will be absorbed in the State Animal Husbandry Department or Rural Development Department, as the state is short of properly trained Veterinary Pharmacists.
The construction work of Veterinary Polytechnic building at Kaljharani is in full swing and will be completed before the start of academic session. A hostel of one hundred capacity for accommodating diploma students is already coming up at Veterinary Polytechnic. The Board of Management of GADVASU has approved the starting of diploma course. The course curriculum of the diploma has already been approved by the Academic Council of the University and has been structured in such a way in order to impart practical training to the diploma students. Dr. Singh said that there is great demand of this course particularly among the rural youth of Punjab. The Veterinary Polytechnic will have excellent training facilities and a Regional Research Station has already been started at Kaljharani. The training will be focused on practical aspects of Animal Husbandry, Laboratory Training and Veterinary Pharmacy. The dairy farmers will also be greatly benefitted from this course, as the man-power will be available to them for managing day-to-day operations of dairy farm. The Dean COVS further informed that teaching positions to run the Veterinary Polytechnic have been identified and process to fill up the positions has already started.
Dr. S.P.S. Sangha, Controller of Examinations informed that the admission will be conducted through an Entrance Examination which will be conducted on 08.08.2010. All the formalities for admission to diploma course and conduct of entrance test have been completed, he said. Dr. V.K. Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU informed that the major focus of the Veterinary Polytechnic and Diploma Course is on the rural youth, who after seeking training from the Veterinary Polytechnic can be employed in State Government jobs or can create place for themselves in the society as self employed youth in livestock sector. He further said that the State Government will be approached to create a corpus fund so that the GADVASU does not feel any financial constraints to run the diploma course smoothly.
