Veterinary College Palampur Celebrates World Veterinary Day News / World Veterinary Day Posted by JimEdwards on Apr 29, 2008 - 09:20 PM The Veterinary and Animal Sciences Teachers Association (VASTA) celebrated World Veterinary Day on Saturday- April 26, 2008. The faculty members along with UG and PG students gathered in a seminar hall of the college and deliberated diversity of this great profession. The Secretary VASTA- Dr. R. Kumar started proceedings by briefly introducing the event. This was followed by expert lectures by Dr. M.M. Singh and Dr. P. Dhar. One of the students also put his views on this occasion. Prof. C Varshneya, a Senior Professor and Chief Guest of the function asked the faculty to publicize their contributions to animal and human health, animal welfare, food safety and food security. Further, he said that "Being a veterinarian involves far more than caring for and treating sick animals, as veterinarians are key professionals providing essential services in a variety of areas”. The President VASTA- Dr. Mandeep Sharma said that Veterinary profession is a highly respected and compassionate profession. In fact, Animals act as factories converting crop residues into milk, meat, wool and other utilities. Domestic animals, free-living animals and wild animals all play a specific role in the ecosystem and therefore, the Veterinary service and Vets are expected to help the community to make use of animal resources fully. He observed that though the veterinarians were too busy in undertaking different activities of the profession but stressed that these activities should reach to the common man and farmers through extensive extension actions. He also desired that this day should be used to carry out self introspection for the previous year and formulating new strategies for the coming year. The SWOT analysis of the profession tells its Strengths as merit based admission to B.V. Sc. & A.H., resulting in professional competitiveness at exit level, Qualified professionals and Acclimatized livestock and fisheries; Weaknesses as budget shortage (Livestock contribution Rs.183, 305.04 crores; Livestock sector gets not more than 100 crores per annum) and non funding of priority research proposals; Opportunities as exploitation of professional manpower and indigenous livestock, wild fauna and flora and opening of veterinary universities and creating Indian Council of Veterinary and Fisheries research, and Education (ICVFRE); and Threats as Stray animal menace and monkey menace because of no clear cut policy plus threat of animal diseases and Zoonosis because of expanding livestock sector and increased international movement of the people. World Veterinary Day was founded in 2001. The objective of the World Veterinary Day is to highlight the gigantic work of the veterinary profession around the World. The World Veterinary Day is celebrated on the last Saturday in April when all veterinarians publicly display their broad knowledge, skills, and many contributions their profession makes to society and the world at large. Celebrations of the World veterinary day by Veterinary College, Palampur also included a CLINICAL CAMP for the ailing livestock by the experts of the college & lectures on the Diversity in Veterinary Profession which commensurate with the theme for this year's World Veterinary Day “Celebrate the Diversity of Profession". Mandeep Sharma, Secretary & R. Kumar, President This article is from World Veterinary Association   http://www.worldvet.org/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.worldvet.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=4213