Veterinary services throughout the state and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) , Ludhiana
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hospital remained suspended in response to protest call given by various state Veterinary and Medical associations, against reduction in NPA in 6th pay commission. GADVASU teachers’ association and Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association held a sit in protest at GADVASU hospital today in which large number of teachers from GADVASU along with state Veterinary Officers participated. The teachers of GADVASU also boycotted the examinations, teaching and farm services. Teacher’s association of GADVASU expressed dismay over the state government’s move to reduce non practice allowance (NPA) of veterinarians, medicos and allied professionals from 25 to 20 per cent along with delinking it from basic pay structure.Dr. Ashwani Kumar, GADVASUTA president said that Veterinarians are serving the poorest of poor livestock farmers and are directly working for upliftment of rural economy and the government’s move to delink the NPA to be a part of salary for calculation of other allowances and post retirement pensionary benefits is highly condemnable. Keeping in view the proactive role of veterinarians during the ongoing pandemic which involve selfless rendering of services without caring for one’s own life, this disheartening move of government is a cruel joke and exposes anti-farmer, anti-rural and anti-employee mindset of state government.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Darshan Kheri, General Secretary, PSOVA said that the government must not forget that professionals in veterinary field are granted NPA due to their late entry to service owing to extended period of studies as compared to other non-medical professionals. The constituent Veterinary colleges of GADVASU (Rampura Phul), KVKs and RRTC Kaljharani also observed the strike and services remained suspended at these centers also. Copies of the Pay Commission report were also burnt by the protesters.
The gathering was also addressed by Dr. APS Brar, Dr. Swaran Singh Randhawa, Dr. Jatinder Singh and Dr. Simrat Sagar Singh.
