*Pleads for life saving equipment
Ajay Raina
JAMMU, May 22: Endangering their lives, the veterinary doctors along with their supportive staff are performing exemplary duties in the firing and shelling affected areas of bordering RS Pura and Arnia Sectors.
However, they pleaded for life saving equipments while performing their duties in the cross border firing affected areas.
A large number of cattle were killed and many were injured in the unprovoked cross border firing by Pakistan from the past few days in the bordering RS Pura and Arnia Sectors.
During visit by this correspondent in the firing and shelling affected areas of the bordering RS Pura and Arnia Sectors, it came to light that a large number of veterinary doctors and their supportive staff are performing their duties to treat the injured cattle and that too without having life saving equipments.
While talking on the conditions of anonymity, a veterinary doctor, who is performing his duty in the firing and shelling affected Arnia Sector told the EXCELSIOR that the veterinary doctors along with their supportive staff are performing their duties round the clock in firing and shelling affected areas.
“Working in these firing and shelling affected areas and that too without life saving equipments is a major threat to our lives. As we are bound to save the injured cattle, we have to perform duties in these affected areas without having life saving equipments”, he stated.
He told that many times they informed the district administration for providing bullet proof vehicles to lift injured cattle, bullet proof jackets, helmets, etc, but nothing has been provided to them, which shows the callousness of the administration towards them.
“Recently we again asked the District Administration to provide life saving equipments, but all goes in vain”, he rued.
He said that if a cattle gets injured in firing or shelling, we (veterinary doctor) has to reach out to the animal to treat it, as cattle is not able to move out of the area of its own, adding that at that time, we need life saving equipments to save our lives, but no such equipments have been provided to them.
“After putting our lives in danger, we treat animals in firing and shelling affected areas and District Administration is all aware about this, but is doing nothing in this regard, which sometimes force us to leave our jobs”, the veterinary doctor said, adding that various times there is dire need of life saving equipments and due to their absence, sometimes cattle breath its last in front of them, which marks a black dot on their profession.
A total of 10 veterinary doctors headed by Livestock Development Officer (LDO) RS Pura are performing their duties in the firing and shelling affected areas of Arnia and RS Pura along with their supportive staff, he said. “Who will be responsible if we get injured or die during firing and shelling in absence of life saving equipments”, he questioned.
He said that to lift injured cattle, they need bullet proof sick animal lifting vehicle and at the time of firing and shelling, one centrally located place should be chosen to treat the injured animals.
“If administration fullfill our these demands, then we will be able to work in the interior areas during firing and shelling and that too fearlessly”, the doctor asserted.
When contacted, Assistant Development Commissioner (ADC) Jammu, Arun Manhas told the EXCELSIOR that “We will take up the demands of the veterinary doctors with Government and will surely get them redressed on priority basis”.
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