Punjab’s retired veterinarians pitch in amid losses suffered by livestock farmers

Chandigarh: In the wake of widespread devastation caused by the flooding of the Ravi, Beas, and Satluj rivers due to unprecedented and incessant rainfall, the Punjab Senior Vets Association (SVA), a body of retired officers of the animal husbandry department, stepped forward to help livestock farmers by pooling resources to provide medicines for treating affected animals.The SVA comprises around 200 officers who served the department in various capacities as senior veterinary officers, assistant directors, deputy directors, joint directors, and directors. Members of the core committee, comprising Dr Nitin Kumar Gupta, Dr Gurinder Singh Walia, Dr Sanjeev Khosla, Dr Desh Deepak Goyal, Dr Shashi Saini, Dr Naresh Sachdeva, Dr Jagjit Singh, and Dr Madan Mohan Singla, said they spent over three decades in service, working closely for the welfare of livestock farmers and treating animals. "We are emotionally attached to this cause, and the welfare of farmers and their livestock has always been our prime objective," they stated. To supplement the govt's limited resources, the association decided to contribute between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per member to set up a corpus fund. Medicines have already been supplied to Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, and Fazilka districts. In addition, 25 doses of anti-snake venom have been provided to protect animals, as waterlogging has increased the risk of snake bites. The core committee also offered full cooperation to the state govt, urging the director and secretary of the animal husbandry department to inform them of requirements for medicines, preventive vaccines, syringes, needles, bandages, antiseptics, and other essentials. "We will ensure immediate supply to support farmers and safeguard suffering animals during this natural calamity," the committee assured.