Vets forge united front,threaten stir

In order to seek the redressal of their genuine demands,veterinary officers of Animal Husbandry Department and Rural Veterinary Officers working on contract basis under Panchayati Raj Institutions have forged an united front.

A decision to this effect was taken here today at a meeting of the state executive of Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association,headed by its president Dr Ashok Kumar Sharma and RVOs led by Dr Navdeep Singh Khinda,said PSVOA press secretary Dr Gurinder Singh Walia in a release. Addressing the meeting,Dr Sharma said their cadre has been forced to adopt the path of agitation following false and hollow assurances by the SAD-BJP government. He said their cadre will boycott district,regional and state level livestock fairs organized by the department and monthly progress reports would not be sent to the higher authorities as a mark of protest. Association general secretary Dr Sukhdev Singh said the fifth Punjab Pay Commission had recommended grant of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) to vets and the government had taken a decision to implement the report but no notification was issued.