Vets protest reduced pay scale in Mansa

Mansa, February 22

The Punjab State Veterinary Officers’ Association (PSVOA) has been holding indefinite protests in Mansa against the reduced salary of newly recruited veterinary officers (doctors). The state, via notification last month, had reduced the salary of newly recruited veterinary officers from Rs 56,100 to Rs 47,600 per month.

The district-level executive committee members of the PSVOA said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had given pay parity to the veterinary officers with that of the medical officers serving in the health department, but by recruiting new officers on reduced salary, the finance department had violated its own regulation of giving 7th Central Pay Commission scales to the employees.

“Our employees diligently rendered services during the lockdown imposed due to the pandemic last year. The veterinary officers contribute to the GDP by increasing the milk, meat and egg production. We demand that the letter issued by the finance department should be withdrawn and the pay scales should be fixed according to 7th Central Pay Commission. Otherwise, we will intensify the protest in the coming days,” the members said. — TNS