Plea to regularise 800 veterinary surgeons

“As many as 800 veterinary assistant surgeons (VAS) recruited as temporary staff on agreement basis to serve the state animal husbandry department last year are now in a state of shock as their contract ended on October 13, 2019. The state is continuing the welfare schemes related to livestock under such scenario there is a need for veterinary assistant surgeons for every taluk and village in TN,” said the memorandum submitted by the IVA to A Gnanasekaran, commissioner of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences.

Considering the salary expenditure, the state chose to recruit the VAS on temporary basis with a basic pay of Rs 40,000 and this should now be increased at least to Rs 50,000. Haryana is paying Rs 53,100 and Bihar is paying Rs 65,000, the memorandum read. The delay in issuing an extension or regularising the temporary staff will only lead to unhealthy malpractices in the department, an informed veterinarian said.