In a significant escalation of their long-standing demand, government veterinary doctors across Punjab have launched a complete strike, bringing essential animal healthcare services to a grinding halt. The protest, which entered its second day on Thursday, is centered on their core demand for the restoration of pay parity with medical doctors in government service.
Essential Services Suspended Across the State
The strike action has led to a complete suspension of all services at civil veterinary offices throughout Punjab. In Ludhiana district alone, operations at 76 civil veterinary offices were severely affected. This has resulted in the unavailability of critical services for livestock owners, including:
- OPD consultations
- Distribution of medicines
- Surgeries
- Gynaecology and obstetrics care for animals
- Laboratory tests
The protest was called by the state's veterinary officers, who staged demonstrations at their respective polyclinics and civil veterinary hospitals. The widespread nature of the strike has caused considerable inconvenience to farmers and animal owners who depend on these government facilities.
A Legacy of Parity Suddenly Withdrawn
The protesting veterinarians argue that their demand is not new but a restoration of a long-established right. They state that from 1977 until 2022, veterinary doctors enjoyed full pay parity with their counterparts in the medical profession. This parity also included benefits under the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme, similar to medical officers.
However, this four-decade-old practice was discontinued by the previous Congress government, a move the vets claim violates service rules and court orders. Dr. Amanpreet Singh, a veterinary officer, emphasized the equivalence of their qualifications and duties during the protest. "Veterinary doctors possess qualifications equivalent to medical doctors and perform equally critical duties related to animal health, public health, and food safety," he stated. "Denial of pay parity violates the principle of equal pay for equal work."
Demands for Justice and a Warning of Escalation
The veterinarians have highlighted additional grievances, including the non-payment of full salary during the probation period, which they label as unjust. They stress that veterinary services are highly specialized and cannot be substituted by professionals from other disciplines.
Dr. Sandeep Pal Singh Bhullar, the district president of the Veterinary Officers' Association, has made a direct appeal to the state government. He urged authorities to resolve this long-pending issue by immediately restoring the pay parity that existed for over 45 years and issuing the necessary notifications to implement all pending demands.
The protesting doctors have issued a clear warning: if their demands are not addressed promptly, they will be forced to intensify their agitation in the coming days. This strike follows a similar protest by nearly 400 veterinary interns a couple of months ago, who were demanding stipend parity with medical interns in Punjab and their counterparts in other states. That protest was withdrawn after government assurances.
