MOHALI, Nov. 24 -- Veterinary doctors across Punjab have decided to halt all reporting to the animal husbandry department, escalating their long-pending agitation over pay parity and service-related demands. The decision was taken at a state-level meeting of the joint action committee (JAC) of vets for Pay-Parity, attended by representatives from all districts.

Dr Gurcharan Singh, convener of the JAC, said veterinary doctors have been protesting for nearly five years, alleging that the government disrupted the pay-parity that existed with medical doctors since 1977. "The starting salary of veterinary officers has been reduced from Rs.56,100 to Rs.47,600. This is a glaring injustice," he said. He added that the government has also failed ...