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VETERINARY ASSISTANTS.
496. During the year under review, material progress has been made to-
wards the completion of the scheme whereby each province will be equipped
with a Subordinate Veterinary Establishment; this will enable the Civil Veteri-
nary Department to deal with all questions connected with the welfare of
the cattle of this country. During the past few years, whilst I have held
administrative charge of this Department, I have striven to effect this, feel-
ing as I do that our first duties should be those which embrace all questions
involving the improvement in the various breeds and the health of cattle in
this country. As will be seen under the section of 'Cattle disease,' we have
made great strides during the past year in the introduction of the preventive
system of inoculation against rinderpest, but without a properly trained
subordinate establishment, we are unable to make that progress which I would
like to see effected.
Punjab.
497. The scheme adopted by the Punjab is about the most complete and is
one well worthy of consideration. A Provincial graded service will be formed
and in it will be amalgamated all Veterinary Assistants employed by the
various Local Bodies as well as those now paid from Imperial funds. This
Provincial service will, I am certain, work well as it will enable promotions to
be made for good work, which under the present system is impossible. Pro-
vision is made in the Punjab for 104 Veterinary Assistants and 6 Inspectors;
coupled with this scheme is the employment of a third Veterinary officer
whose duties will be those solely connected with cattle. This appointment
has received the sanction of the Secretary of State, and when the officer is
appointed, the Punjab will be in a position to take up all questions con-
nected with cattle.
N.-W. Provinces.
498. This important subject has always met with attention at the hands of
the Government of the North-Western Provinces. In these Provinces it is
intended to employ 96 Veterinary Assistants under various Local Bodies and
6 Inspectors under the Provincial Government. Already 33 Veterinary
Assistants and 2 Inspectors have been appointed. As in the Punjab, an
extra officer for duties connected with cattle is much needed.
Bombay.
499. In Bombay it is proposed to employ 24 Veterinary Assistants of whom
19 have been appointed. This number is independent of the Inspectors who
may hereafter be found necessary.
Madras.
500. Madras alone remains with no provision to combat the great mortality
which now exists amongst the cattle in that Presidency, and at the request
of the Government of India, I conferred with the Board of Revenue in
December last, and as a result of the Conference I was enabled to draw up a
comprehensive scheme which, if adopted by the Government of Madras,
would enable a Veterinary College to be started for the training of Veteri-
nary Assistants, who afterwards would find employment in the districts.
It also provided for the employment of a certain number of reliable graduates
who would assist the Superintendent, thus enabling him to be of some value,
for single handed as he is at present (the Stock Inspectors now employed
being next to useless), he is totally unable to cope with the work.
501. The scheme, as drawn up by me, throws but little expense on the Pro-
vincial Revenues, as it is thought that, as in Bombay and Calcutta, Native
gentlemen will contribute towards the erection of the College, and in fact
already a sum of Rs. 10,000 has been offered by one gentleman who is inter-
ested in the matter.
502. The Director of Land Records and Agriculture states :—
Central Provinces.
"In the absence of a Civil Veterinary Superintendent for the Provinces, a Senior Veterinary Assistant,
whose duty it will be to visit and inspect the various Veterinary Dispensaries, is urgently needed. One extra
Veterinary Assistant to send out from head-quarters to investigate an outbreak of cattle disease in any district
where there is no local qualified man would also prove of much help. This has been urged more than once, but
until the financial outlook is brighter there is little prospect, I fear, of the additional staff being forthcoming."
Berar.
503. On the question of the employment of Veterinary Assistants in Berar,
the Director of Land Records and Agriculture states :—
"Revised proposals in connection with the Subordinate Civil Veterinary Staff on the principles approved
by the Government of India have been submitted, and it is hoped that they will receive sanction before long.
The Department has always been shorthanded, and this has been more than ever proved in the past year when
disease has been unusually prevalent in the Province."