Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University students intensify stir

Tirupati: Intensifying their stir, the students of Veterinary students staged a dharna and blocked the main entrance leading to Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) here on Wednesday. Tense situation prevailed for some time when a group of students climbed atop the high wall of the entrance gate from where they raised slogans against the government for its apathy on providing employment to BVSc and MVSc degree holders.

• Demand that the government upgrade the 1,505 Rural Livestock Units in the State as Veterinary Dispensaries to provide jobs to the BVSc degree holders after issuing notification
• Government spending Rs 30 lakh on each veterinary student but not utilising our services for the benefit of poor livestock farmers: Students

The Veterinary students and unemployed Veterinary undergraduate graduates are protesting statewide for the last 24 days. Highlighting their demands through placards and raising slogans, the protestors demanded the government to upgrade the 1,505 Rural Livestock Units (RLUs) in the State as Veterinary Dispensaries (VD) to provide jobs to the BVSc degree holders after duly issuing notification.

Student’s leader Bharadwaj lamented that they have represented to the State government on many occasions but it is silent on this issue. Several students, who have completed the degree, have been unemployed since 3 years and more than 500 under and post graduates are left behind without any opportunities in the State, he added.

With the government spending Rs 30 lakh on each veterinary student, the students urged the officials to utilise their services to the poor livestock farmers instead of leaving them in lurch. Students here observing relay fast for past 16 days to press the government
concede their demand.