Twelve livestock inspectors were injured in the past 30 days in Kerala while on duty, the Kerala Livestock Inspectors Association (KLIA) said here on Saturday, citing data collected by the association. The association members were responding to a report -- Live Stock Inspector’s Job Riskier than a Cop: Thinks Govt -- published in the Express on Saturday. These livestock inspectors were injured while taking part in the special on-field programme conducted by the Livestock Department in every six months, the association members added.
“The livestock inspectors have to visit each house in every six months to inspect the health of cattle. The risk is very high as they do not have any protection while on field duty. Some animals will become violent unexpectedly while giving medicine or injection. The pathogens originating in the animals are also causing dangers to the officials, KLIA adds.
The Association blames that they were not getting special leave or any kind of monetary aid if injured or affected by diseases while on duty. The state has not yet given a final nod to their demands on the issue.
There are around 3,000 livestock inspectors in the state. They are having close contacts with different kinds of animals each day. The chances of getting affected with tuberculosis, brucellosis, rabis and skin diseases are high in the field.
“It is not logical to compare the risk we are having with the risk of police. We are having different kind of risk which may even take our life. There are many livestock inspectors who are seriously injured or facing difficulty after injured on field,” KLIA general secretary Satheesh Alphonse told Express. World Health Organisation has identified more than 200 zoonosis in the world. They have also issued warning that the officials and individuals having contacts with animals are vulnerable to such diseases. But the government is not yet aware of the risks taking by these officials. “Govt is not willing to allocate leave or any kind of special allowance for the treatment of injuries caused while on duty. We have to keep a portion of our salary apart for taking preventive injections and treatments for injuries,” Ahmathulla Khan, KLIA treasurer, said.
KLIA is optimistic about the promise Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan gave them in May. He said to KLIA officials that the department would consider their plight seriously and the concern they have raised would get a positive response from the state.