Bidar: There are five Government Veterinary Colleges in the State under the control of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar.
A total of 2,500 students are currently enrolled in these institutions in Bengaluru, Bidar, Shivamogga, Gadag and Hassan Districts.
Junior Veterinary students staged a sit-in in front of the entrance of the Karnataka Veterinary University near Kamathana in Bidar Taluk, demanding an increase in the internship allowance.
“This is a five-year course after which we spend a year of interning, six months in our District and six months in other the Districts, one of internships will be completed outside the State, they said.
The protesting students added, “State Government is providing only Rs. 14,000 per month as internship allowance and it is difficult to meet the expenses related to food, accommodation, transportation and studies. We also have to borrow money from our parents, which has put pressure on them.”
“We have been requesting for the last two years to increase the scholarship to at least Rs. 30,000. We have not been taken seriously. According to the rank, we are equal to MBBS students who are getting paid more than Rs. 30,000 for their internship,” they asserted.
They also demanded that junior Veterinary students engaged in the service of animals should also be given an equal allowance.
The memorandum written to the Chief Minister was submitted to the office of the University’s Registrar.
