15
69. Milk as a dietary was never brought to so much prominence during
the recent years. It has indeed taken root in the train of thoughts of the
people. Infant mortality and some of the deficiency diseases can be traced
to the quality and quantity of milk consumed. If we want to make our
future generation healthy and efficient consumption of milk is essential.
Similarly meat forms a part of Indian dishes more commonly now than it did
in the past. It cannot therefore be too strongly emphasised that no effort
should be spared to ensure that these two articles of diet are made available
not only in quantity sufficient but also in quality wholesome and free from
any infection. There cannot be two opinions that these two commodities
should be scrupulously examined before they are allowed to be offered for
sale for human consumption. None but a qualified Veterinary surgeon is
better suited to carry out this responsibility. This has not only been
recognised by the Public Health Commissioner with the Government of India
but has also been specially stressed by the Imperial Council of Agricultural
Research.
70. The Department took an active interest in and substantially contri-
buted towards the success of the scheme of Rural Uplift work in the province.
The Veterinary Assistant Surgeons did excellent work in the Rural Uplift
centres by protecting cattle against the worst fell disease of cattle, to wit,
Rinderpest, undertook mass castration of weedy bulls to exclude them from
the field of breeding operation with a view to improve the breed of cattle and
as occasion arose rendered requisite veterinary aid to sick animals. Besides
these they also impressed the stock owners on the general welfare of cattle
particularly with reference to prevention of epidemic diseases and improve-
ment of breed and feed of cattle. Myself and my circle Inspectors visited
such centres as often as possible where we tried to infuse the spirit of service,
co-operation and self-help.
71. The undesirable effect of the dual control of the Department conti-
nues. Instances can be cite where administratoin had to be relegated to the
back ground to satisfy personal consideration, where policy and working of
the Department had been unnecessarily encroached upon and interfered
with, where the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons had to harp under difficulties
to carry on responsible duty imposed upon them, where personal interest
was brought to play superior to public interest for which the veterinary
service, nay any service, stands so that harmony is lacking and discipline
withering. 1 am afraid that the contagion may spread unless treated in
right time. If we do not mean to give efficient administration a good-bye.
measures to remedy this should be considered with as little delay as possible.
It is to be regretted that appeal as embodied in the Government Resolution
No. 752-E., dated the 28th March 1941 had so far produced little effect. I
would therefore suggest With all the emphasis I can command that the Civil
Veterinary Department, Assam, should be entirely provincialised on the
same principle as it has been in the case of other nation-building departments
such as agriculture, Industry, Co-operative, etc.
72. As I remarked once before Assam offers an excellent opportunity
for investigation of animal diseases. This has proved to be true. It is ex-
tremely fortunate that I have got so ardent and zealous a Veterinary Investi-
--gation Officer in the person of Mr. V. R. Gopalakrishnan. He has been
discharging his responsibilites with that loyal devotion to duty which has
impressed me very much. My thanks arc due to him for his ever-abiding
readiness to carry out any instruction given to him and successful prosecu-
tion of his work. Now that an Animal Nutrition Officer has been appointed
for Assam and has already commenced his work how very much I wished