Karnataka has 1,139 vacant veterinary doctor positions and 6,200 assistant posts, leading to significant gaps in animal healthcare services across the state. The ongoing delay in recruitment by the state government is creating challenges for livestock owners, particularly with the recent closure of government veterinary clinics around Bengaluru.
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Animal Husbandry and Sericulture Minister C Puttarangashetty reported to the State Assembly that out of 3,262 sanctioned veterinary doctor posts, 1,139 are unfilled. Similarly, 6,200 veterinary assistants are needed out of a total of 13,707 sanctioned positions. Urban areas like Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural have lower vacancy rates, with only two and ten vacant positions for veterinary doctors, respectively. However, rural districts are experiencing severe shortages, with Uttara Kannada having 95 vacancies out of 130 sanctioned posts, and Mandya with 77 out of 157.
In terms of veterinary assistants, Bengaluru Urban has 96 vacancies from a sanctioned strength of 251, while Bengaluru Rural has 171 unfilled out of 324.
The minister indicated that the process to appoint 400 veterinary doctors through the Karnataka Public Service Commission is ongoing, along with a separate proposal for 400 additional doctors and 300 junior veterinary inspectors on a contract basis, currently under review by the Finance Department.
Animal activists are calling on the government to expedite the filling of all veterinary vacancies. Arun Prasad, an activist, remarked that the Animal Husbandry Department has not filled any posts for a decade, which has resulted in the closure of several veterinary clinics, impacting livestock owners significantly.
A report from Bangalore Mirror on December 30, 2023, highlighted a protest in Halanayakanahalli against the government's plan to relocate a veterinary hospital that supported local livestock and pets.
Sujaya Jagadish from the SPCA indicated a long-standing crisis in animal healthcare, citing unfilled positions across various levels for nearly six years. She emphasized the urgent need for qualified personnel to address the welfare of animals and restore accountability for these delays.
Nevina Kamath, secretary of Action for Animal Justice, stated that the overall vacancy rate in the department stands at 56.04 percent, exacerbated by rural doctors remaining in urban areas, which diminishes care in rural regions. This has resulted in critical mobile veterinary services being idled and numerous villages lacking veterinary visits for over six years, putting substantial pressure on rural farmers.
North Karnataka districts, including Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Raichur, Koppal, Vijayanagara, and Ballari are experiencing the most acute shortages, with many clinics unable to operate due to the lack of basic staff. Kamath also noted that ongoing ABC programmes to manage street dog populations have stalled, pointing to the department's inadequacy in fulfilling its essential roles.