Veterinary varsity VC to retire on December 19

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14

Vice-Chancellor Dr VK Taneja is set to retire on December 19 after completing his tenure of eight years at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).

Highly placed sources informed that till the time the new Vice-Chancellor was chosen by the state government, Dr G Vajralingam, financial secretary, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, is likely to be the officiating VC of the veterinary varsity.

The state government has reportedly formed a committee with senior IAS officers as its members, which will be instrumental in appointment of new Vice Chancellor. A senior official, preferring anonymity disclosed that within two months, the state government expects the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor at GADVASU. “The applications will be shortlisted by the committee members as per terms and conditions and candidates names will behanded over to the Chief Minister for the final approval. The entire process starting frominviting applications will take approximately two months,” the official said.

Meanwhile, Dr VK Taneja was the first technical Vice-Chancellor at GADVASU. He took charge in December 2006. Prior to it, senior IAS officer DS Bains was the VC when GADVASU was formed in April 2006.

Dr PD Juyal, registrar, GADVASU, said during the tenure of Dr Taneja, the veterinary varsity reached to greater heights. “Many important MoUs were signed, researches were conducted and colleges were included,” Dr Juyal added.

“Since 2006, the veterinary university has been on the move and is today recognised both at the national and global level. Because of its academic and research excellence as evident from quality human resource, publications, patents, development of processes and product technologies and their dissemination and skill development for self-employment, university has been rated as one and the only veterinary varsity among the top 25 agricultural universities in India by Careers 360 in 2013. The university has been accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, UGC and Association of Indian Universities,” Dr Juyal said.

The university which started functioning with one Veterinary College would not have been viable as the farmers and entrepreneurs in the state also needed manpower and technologies to support dairy, fisheries and other livestock production, processing, marketing and skill development programmes for increased incomes. Accordingly, faculty of Dairy Science and Technology, faculty of Fisheries, Schools of Animal Bio-technology, Veterinary Public Health and three regional stations to transfer knowledge and technologies were added. A diploma course in Veterinary Science and Animal Health Technology was started to support professionals in veterinary sciences and manage large farms. In addition to regional stations, three Krishi Vigyan Kendras as sanctioned by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research have been added, Dr Taneja said.