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Wildlife Dept. vets demand Rs 20,000 ‘Wildlife’ allowance
View(s):Veterinary surgeons of the Wildlife Veterinary Surgeons Association (WVSA), attached to the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), have suspended elephant capture-and-relocation for the past two weeks, demanding a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000.
They claim they are overworked and underpaid, though working under trying conditions, while faced with constant threats of physical harm from wild animals.
WVSA Secretary, Dr S. Jayawardena said there are only nine surgeons serving the entire country, but their needs have been neglected.
“Most of the doctors who join the State Veterinary service are reluctant to join the DWC, given the many constraints in it. Those of us who serve in it, face many risks while being deprived of engaging in private practice, unlike those outside this service,” he said.
Dr Jayawardena said they have held talks with the relevant authorities for approval for the risk allowance, but to date there has been no response.
“If the authorities want to get more veterinary surgeons to serve in the DWC, they will have to offer better benefits to them,” he said.