Ludhiana, April 26
The president of the Veterinary Council of India, A.L. Chaudhary today warned that the avian influenza (bird flue) could turn into a pandemic calamity if preventive measures were not taken. He said, although there was no threat as of now, but a long term policy needs to be adopted against this disease in the country.

Talking to The Tribune during the twenty fourth annual conference of Indian Poultry Science Association, Chaudhary pointed out that the poultry industry has lost billions of rupees due to the mild infections only. “During the recent epidemic outbreaks, the Asian poultry sector had suffered huge losses to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees, besides posing a lot of risk to human lives,” he said.

Chaudhary, who is an eminent animal breeder of world repute, also expressed grave concern over the chemical residues that straightway land on our dining tables through the food taken by human beings. This he said, was leading to lot of health hazards and other problems among the human beings, including some deadly diseases.

The Veterinary Council of India, he disclosed was also proposing to the government to bring in a legislation against the unhygienic roadside slaughter houses. These are the major and potential threat to human health and need to be checked with a firm hand.

Poultry, he said, has the potential to generate huge employment at a relatively low cost. He said, the poultry farming was turning into an industry with ever increasing demand across the country. He said, it could prove to be another substitute to agriculture.

Chaudhary maintained when employment opportunities were scarce in the rural areas, poultry could provide an effective alternative.

The VCI president said, “The council has mooted to review the syllabii of the veterinary studies across the country to make it more practical and job oriented. He also hailed the trend of the setting up of specialised veterinary universities in the country. He said, the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University had already been recognised by the VCI along with several others.

He pointed out, in the modern day of super specialisation it was necessary to set up such universities and institutes for specialised and independent research that would certainly boost the animal husbandry and related sectors.

Mandi Gobindgarh, April 26
The Desh Bhagat Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Mandi Gobindgarh, organised a seminar on ayurveda vision to provide knowledge pertaining to the ongoing research.

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr Bipin Chander Sharma, Joint Director (Ayurveda), Punjab. A team of doctors from Kerala headed by Dr Hemalatha Potti was among the participants. The Principal of the college, Dr Loveleen Kaur Ahuja, stressed the need to propagate the ayurvedic methodology and its practice.

Students asked questions from the visiting doctors from Kerala. Staff, principals of neighboring colleges and students attended the seminar.