Veterinary education in India: Shaping the future agenda with focus on veterinary public health education

Abstract

Veterinary education provides human resource required for augmenting public good. In a country, where up to80% population is rural and animal husbandry is the livelihood, veterinary profession provides the desired professional coverage. The available 46 colleges are inadequate to turn out the required number of vets. Out of these, only six conform to the standards laid down by the Veterinary Council of India. One lacuna that remains, common to all, is ‘shortage of teachers’. This paper attempts to address this problem. A veterinary college requires constant, continuous and caring support of government. Compliance of the VCI/ICAR accreditation inspection reports lies with the government. A synchronous functional operation of Government and veterinary colleges provides uninterrupted supply of human resource to carry out the state development programmes. Technical advisory support is provided by the VCI/ICAR. ICAR extends support through funding some research projects and also investment in building infrastructure in the form of development grants. VPHE discipline occupies a central position in veterinary teaching. On one side, it is connected with the wellness of animals – ‘prevention and control of animal diseases’ and on the other side it takes care of the health of humans – professionally exposed to zoonotic infections. Farmers, animal products’ processors, lab workers, epidemiologists, health workers, sylvan, camping and recreational groups constitute a large chunk of population that is served by VPHE professionals. They also provide a protective role to consumers from Farm to Fork. Reputation of a college depends upon the reputation of faculty and available infrastructure. Professors of VPHE and Deans of veterinary faculty are expected to be highly knowledgeable. They need to connect horizontally with public – all stakeholders and in all such areas where veterinary services are required to address the problems. Such initiatives would benefit both. The expertise/services of veterinarians, especially VPHE personnel are not sufficiently utilized for want of a Government policy adopting “One Health”, although advocated jointly by OIE, WHO, FAO and adopted by most countries. This has been advocated strongly in this paper.