Veterinary Education in India: History, Present Scenario and Career Opportunities

Abinash Satapathy*

Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Anjora, Durg-491001, (C.G), India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: abinashsatapathy960@gmail.com

Abstract:

India has one of the largest and institutionally most complex agricultural research systems in the world. As the agriculture and veterinary science considered as backbone of Indian economy, which plays the most crucial role in the socio-economic sphere of the country. Since last decade drastic change has been took place in the field of veterinary science resulted the incorporation of knowledge, skill in the field of veterinary education system. The number of colleges and universities, and the quality of these institutions, has a significant impact on the output and efficiency of education. In this review our efforts have been devoted to explore the history, list of various veterinary universities and Institutes in India as well as the career opportunities for the veterinary science students.

KEY WORDS: Veterinary Education, History, Career opportunities, Present Scenario, veterinary Institutes.

INTRODUCTION:

By the time of the ancient civilizations there is evidence of close interaction between man and animals. Indian literatures reveals that the existence of veterinary hospitals during the ruling period of Chandra Gupta mourya(300-298BC) and King Asoka(237-232BC). At that time veterinarians were called as Salihotriya and designated as Salutri, after the famous horse medicine authority Salihotra, the son of a Brahmin sage, Hayagosha¹. Shalihotra's principal work was a large treatise on the care and management of horses, the Shalihotra Samhita having some 12,000 shlokas in Sanskrit. Based on the various literatures, in India, veterinary education started in 1862 with the establishment of an army veterinary school in Pune². The first civil veterinary school was established in Babugarh (Hapur) in Uttar Pradesh, in the year 1877. Subsequently, the first veterinary college was started in Lahore (1885), now in Pakistan. Similarly in 1985, the veterinary research laboratory was recommended for establishment and established in the year 1989 at Pune, India.Subsequently in the year 1983, the said laboratory was moved to Mukteswar in the Kumaun Hills of Uttar Pradesh, India due to inadequate infrastructural facilities for working with highly virulent diseases. The Bombay veterinary college was established in 1886.³ On the basis of recommendations of several commissions appointed at the end of nineteenth century for controlling preventing cattle plagues and maintaining the health of bullocks, a civil veterinary department was established in 1881.⁴With the expansions of the activities of civil veterinary departments in several states, veterinary colleges arose in different centers, e.g. Calcutta in 1893 and Madras in 1903.² These veterinary colleges awarded a diploma based on the adoption of programme of study developed by the royal college of veterinary Surgeons, London. To cope with the animal disease problems, in 1928, The Royal commission of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent recommended for four fold increase in the employment of veterinary assistant surgeons. The commissions suggested that degree programme in India be developed, modeled on higher education for veterinary surgeons in England and recommended that one of the existing colleges be upgraded with the central assistance to introduce degree level education. Then in the year 1936, the madras veterinary college took the land and with the concurrence of Madras University, The bachelor of Veterinary Science programme started. Subsequently veterinary degree programme were started in other states of India also. After the independence in India, various teams reviewed agricultural education and research. A review committee named Agriculture Review Committee (ARC) consisted of eminent scientists from India, The United Kingdom, and the United States .Such Committee recommended the recognization of veterinary and agricultural education in India. According to their report, various agricultural universities were established in India starting from 1960 followed by the same year at pantnagar the U.P Agricultural University was established.⁵ In other states the establishment of these universities was slow and did not get the full financial support and cooperation from the respective state governments that lead to inadequate progress in the education and research in the field of veterinary sciences. Earlier the Vice Chancellors of the various Agricultural Universities who were agriculture graduates never devoted the necessary attention to developing veterinary science. This in turn causes deterioration of veterinary education under an agricultural Universities later led to establishment of separate universities for veterinary and animal sciences such as at Tamilnadu in 1989 and in Calcutta in West Bengal in1995 and in 2001 in the state of Maharashtra. The appointment of University Education Commission popularly known as Radhakrishnan Commission was the first significant step taken by Government of India in the field of education in 1948 i.e. just after independence under the Chairmanship of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, a distinguished scholar and former vice-chancellor of Banaras Hindu University and who became the second President of India. The Commission was appointed in November, 1948 and it submitted its report in August, 1949. The Report of the Commission is a document of great importance as it has guided the development of university education in India since independence. Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) came in to existence as the second Agricultural University, on 24th August, 1962 through an act passed by the Orissa Legislative Assembly.

Academic programmes in veterinary sciences:

Various undergraduate, Post graduates, Doctoral and some Post graduate diploma courses being offered by various veterinary institutes in India. The undergraduate course i.e. B.V.Sc and AH includes the study of animal anatomy and physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and allied subjects. The clinical study comprises of veterinary medicine, surgery, hygiene and pathology. Practical training is an important element of the course. B.V.Sc and AH can be pursued after 10+2, Basic requirement is study of physics, chemistry and biology at 10+2 level. Earlier the course was of 4.5 years duration with practical internship compulsory. Presently, B.V.Sc. and A.H. degree course become 5 years duration with a common syllabus throughout the country and is regulated by Veterinary Council of India, New Delhi.

Opportunities in veterinary sciences:

The beginning of the 21^st century finds the veterinary profession as a noble profession by the general public and a source of considerable interest, with unprecedented exposure of veterinary matters in the popular media. Veterinarians are regarded as guardians of animal health and welfare, and the veterinary schools have a responsibility to continue to produce graduates in whom the public will have confidence. Opportunities for training and the demand for specialist services have grown. The comparative approach of veterinary science will continue to provide insight and support for basic scientists and contribute to the understanding of human disease.

Careers in veterinary science:

Veterinary graduates have a wide range of career options.

· Most graduates are employed in general practice. Practitioners act as anesthetists, radiologists, physicians and surgeons. They work in different places such as Veterinary officers at block levels, Additional district veterinary officer, sub divisional veterinary officers etc. Some practitioners work with a wide range of species whereas others are more specialized. There are also referral hospitals where more specialized treatments are available

· Practitioners specializing in farm animals are working as farm managers in state live stock farms, Semen banks, poultry farms, Meat/milk production plants as well as in poly clinics. They are much concerned with preventive medicine in flocks and herds as with the treatment of individual animals. They are knowledgeable in breeding and nutritional problems and the spread and control of disease. They also advise on the production of safe, wholesome food and the associated animal welfare issues. Veterinarians in farm animal practice must be familiar with computerized records on health and production and be able to interpret them in the formulation and appraisal of disease control programmes.

· Graduates can also choose a career in research and/or teaching, usually after postgraduate training in one of the basic biological sciences i.e. biological productions institutes or in disease eradication scheme. Veterinary scientists are also employed in natural science laboratories, in veterinary and medical schools, in medical research institutes as technical research officers, and other organizations like omfed, opelfed and Non Governmental organizations (NGOs).

· Opportunities also exist in either government services or related 'Agency' services includes

· Veterinary Field Service (VFS): This involved in controlling and eradicating major epidemic diseases of farm animals, controlling the import and export of animals and animal products, operating animal health schemes and matters relating to animal welfare? In addition the VFS is involved in consumer protection especially in relation to meat hygiene and diseases communicable between people and animals. To assist the VFS in its more routine duties, veterinarians in general practice are appointed as Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVI).

· The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD): The VMD deals with the licensing of veterinary medicines and has opportunities for those with an interest in pharmacology and toxicology.

· The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) which consists of regional veterinary investigation centres, and the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL). The VLA is staffed by veterinary and scientific staff who support statutory control and eradication schemes for animal diseases or public health and play an important role in endemic disease surveillance. Linked to the latter they assist practicing veterinarians with problems of diagnosis by laboratory and on-farm investigations.

· Veterinary graduates are employed by the Home Office to work within the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate, by Animal Welfare Societies such as

Ÿ The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA),

Ÿ Scottish SPCA,

Ÿ Blue Cross,

Ÿ People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)

Ÿ The Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

Other opportunities:

Veterinary graduates also find employment in

Ÿ Overseas universities as faculty for teaching and research

Ÿ In pharmaceutical companies (Pre-clinical studies)

Ÿ Pet food manufacturers

Ÿ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Ÿ The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS)

Ÿ Zoos and wild life centers

Ÿ Quarantine Units Army Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC)

Ÿ Race Clubs

Ÿ Vaccine Production Plants

List of veterinary Institutes in India with their respective websites:

Sl. No	Name of the Institute	Name of the University	Web Link
1.	College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati	Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati	svvu.edu.in/
2.	NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram	Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati	http://svvu.edu.in/CvscGannavaram.html
3.	College of Veterinary Science, Proddatur	Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati	svvu.edu.in/CvscProddatur.html
4.	College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati	Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat	http://www.vetbifguwahati.ernet.in/
5.	College of Veterinary Science and A H, Durg	Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Anjora, Durg	http://cgkv.ac.in/veterinary.aspx
6.	College of Veterinary Science and AH, Anand	Anand Agricultural University, Anand	http://www.aau.in/college-menu/702
7.	College of Veterinary Sc and AH,Sardarkrushinagar	Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University	www.sdau.edu.in/Education/VeterinaryCollege/
8.	College of Veterinary Science and AH, Navsari	Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari	http://www.nau.in/
9.	College of Veterinary Science and AH , Junagadh	Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh	http://www.jau.in/covs/
10.	College of Veterinary Science, Hisar	Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and AH, Hisar	http://www.luvas.edu.in/about-college.html
11.	Dr. G.C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Palampur	CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalay, Palampur	http://www.hillagric.ac.in/edu/covas/vahe/
12.	Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Jammu	Sher-e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu	www.skuast.org/skuastwebsite/index-vet.php
13.	Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Srinagar, Kashmir	Sher-e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar	http://www.skuastkashmir.ac.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=171&Itemid=33
14.	Ranchi College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Ranchi	Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi	http://www.bauranchi.org/colleges/faculty-of-veterinary-science-animal-husbandry/
15.	Veterinary College Hebbal, Bangalore	Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar	http://www.kvafsu.kar.nic.in/colleges/veterinarycollegehebbal/index.htm
16.	Veterinary College Nandinagar, Bidar	Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar	http://www.kvafsu.kar.nic.in/Colleges/BidarVeterinaryCollege/index.htm
17.	Veterinary College, Hassan	Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar	www.kvafsu.kar.nic.in/Colleges/VeterinaryCollegeHassan/index.htm
18.	Veterinary College, Shimoga	Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar.	http://www.kvafsu.kar.nic.in/Colleges/VeterinaryCollegeShimoga/index.htm
19.	College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Thrissur	Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University, Pookot	www.kvasu.ac.in/about
20.	College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookote	Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University, Pookot	http://www.kvasu.ac.in/college/more/3
21.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur	Nanaji Deshmukh University of Veterinary Sciences, Jabalpur	http://www.mppcvv.org/jabalpur.html
22.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow	Nanaji Deshmukh University of Veterinary Sciences, Jabalpur	http://www.mppcvv.org/mhow.html
23.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Rewa	Nanaji Deshmukh University of Veterinary Sciences, Jabalpur	http://www.mppcvv.org/rewa.html
24.	College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Parbhani	Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur	http://www.covaspbn.in/
25.	Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur	Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur	http://www.nvcnagpur.net.in/
26.	Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai	Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur	http://bvc.org.in/
27.	College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir	Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur	vcudg.in/
28.	K.N.P. College of Veterinary Sciences, Satara	Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur	http://www.knpvc.in/
29.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Aizawl, Mizoram	Central Agricultural University, Imphal	http://www.cvsccauaizawl.edu.in/
30.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar	Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar	http://www.ovcbbsr.in/
31.	Bihar Veterinary College, Patna	Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur	http://www.bvcpatna.org.in/
32.	Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Puducherry	Pondicherry University, Puducherry	http://www.ragacovas.com/
33.	College of Veterinary Science, Ludhiana	Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University	http://www.gadvasu.in/
34.	Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar	Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University	http://www.kcvas.com/
35.	College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner	Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner	http://rajuvas.org/
36.	Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur	Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner	www.apollovet.org/
37.	Mahatma Gandhi Veterinary College, Bharatpur	Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner	http://www.mgvcbharatpur.com/
38.	Madras Veterinary College, Chennai	Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai	http://www.tanuvas.tn.nic.in/mvc.html
39.	Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal	Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai	http://www.tanuvas.tn.nic.in/vcrinkl.html
40.	College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad	Sri P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana State University for Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad	http://tsvu.nic.in/
41.	College of Veterinary Science, Korutla		http://tsvu.nic.in/open_record_view.php?ID=38
42.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Faizabad	Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad	http://www.nduat.in/
43.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mathura	Uttar Pradesh Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evam Go- Anusandhan, Mathura	http://www.upvetuniv.edu.in/
44.	College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pantnagar	Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar	http://gbpuat.ac.in/acads/cvsc/index.htm
45.	Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences , Kolkata	West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata	http://www.wbuafscl.ac.in/
46.	College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry at R.K. Nagar, Agartala (Tripura)	Tripura University, Agartala	http://ardd.tripura.gov.in/collage_home.html

Some other important links:

Ÿ Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI): http://ivri.nic.in/

Ÿ Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): http://www.icar.org.in/

Ÿ The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): http://www.ilri.org/

Ÿ Microbial Genetic Resource Portal: http://www.mgrportal.org.in/

CONCLUSIONS:

Graduation with a veterinary degree acknowledges high achievement in a lengthy and demanding course which requires a range of knowledge such as understanding the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of the common diseases and disorders, legislation relating to the welfare (including transport) of animals, research methods and the contribution of basic and applied research to all aspects of veterinary science and veterinary public health issues including zoonoses. The veterinarians play important roles not only in animal health and welfare but also in human health, environmental medicine and biomedical research either directly or indirectly.

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2. Sasidhar PVK and Reddy GP.A quantitative analysis of the supply and demand of veterinary manpower in India: implications for policy decisions.Rev. sci. tech. Off. Int. Epiz. 2013; 32(3):639-644.

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Received on 06.12.2017 Modified on 02.01.2018

Research J. Science and Tech. 2018; 10(3):225-229.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2018.00032.3