An acute shortage of veterinary doctors in Assam has affected the health of cattle in the state.
Central government norms prescribe one veterinary doctor for every 5,000 cattle, but in Assam, at present, there just one such doctor for every 26,000 cattle, a local newspaper has revealed.
The state animal husbandry and veterinary department is being squarely blamed for this bizarre state of affairs.
Assam presently has 571 veterinary doctors in cattle-related hospitals and dispensaries.
There are 115 posts lying vacant.
The department has asked the Assam Public Service Commission to conduct interviews and select doctors for the vacant posts.
A proposal to establish 200 new veterinary hospitals is also under consideration of the authorities.
This will take another four to five years for the whole scheme to materialise.
