Voices Unheard: A Plea For Recognition and Support

In the heart of Sindh, our para-vet community, tirelessly working in the field of livestock and animal health, faces a stark reality – a reality of neglected efforts and financial struggles. The salary we earn from the Livestock and Fisheries Department, Sindh, is meager, making it challenging to manage our household expenses.

We, the stock assistants and equivalent para-vets, earnestly request the higher authorities to acknowledge our hard work and provide us with the relief and facilities we deserve. Despite having financial resources, the department has turned a blind eye to our plea for support.

Our community organization, Voice of Sindh Para Veterinary Employees, is still awaiting registration, a process hindered by the lack of financial support. We appeal for the necessary funds to expedite our registration and make our voice heard.

In our pursuit to serve the community, we requested a single room for our organization's office in Hyderabad, near the head office of the Director General of Livestock, Sindh. Unfortunately, our plea was met with indifference, despite our commitment to duties in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, or nearby areas.

Furthermore, we humbly request timescale promotions, a plea that fell on deaf ears. We took our cause to court, but financial constraints halted our pursuit of justice.

In these challenging times, we propose a solution – the purchase of motorcycles on an installment basis, with deductions conveniently made from our salary packages. This would alleviate the burden of transportation costs in times of rising expenses.

Additionally, we implore the department to extend the petrol allowance facilities for fieldwork to our level, not just reserving it for the higher authorities. Our plea is simple – recognize our efforts, support our cause, and ensure that the basic rights and facilities we ask for are no longer denied.

We stand united, hoping that our voices will no longer go unheard, and our struggles will pave the way for a better future for the para-vet community in Sindh.

Neglect and Struggle: The Untold Story of Para-Vets Staff Heroes

In the vast landscapes of Sindh, a group of unsung heroes silently battles the challenges of animal health, risking their lives in the line of duty. Meet the dedicated para-veterinary staff, armed not with sophisticated safety equipment but with passion, commitment, and a diploma in Livestock and Animal Husbandry.

In the heart of the field, under the open sky, these heroes conduct treatments, administer vaccines, and brave encounters with dangerous animals. Yet, their struggle goes unnoticed as they lack the basic protective gear that should be a fundamental right for any frontline worker.

The pictures tell a poignant tale – a buffalo charging at para-vet staff, the very individuals who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of animals and communities. Despite their crucial role, the livestock sector neglects their safety, providing no aprons, no protective clothing.

The foreign funds pouring into the department seem to find their way to Drs and VO, leaving the para-vet technical staff in the shadows. The question echoes in the winds of Sindh – where do these dedicated individuals go when their efforts are met with indifference?

These para-vets, armed with a two-year diploma, conduct OPDs, offer treatments, provide advice and suggestions, reaching remote rural and urban areas. Their hard work, however, is met with an unjust lack of recognition and respect, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in acknowledging the essential role played by the para-veterinary community in Sindh.

As these heroes continue to navigate the challenges, it's time to shine a spotlight on their struggles, demand their rightful place in projects and programs, and ensure that the basic rights and safety measures they deserve are no longer withheld. The story of para-veterinary heroes is a testament to resilience, courage, and the need for change in Sindh's Livestock and Fisheries Department.

Securing Livestock Para-Vets Community & Public Funds: A Dual Call for Equity

In my dedicated capacity as a Stock Assistant in Sindh's Livestock Department and as the proud founder of the Voice Of Sindh Para Veterinary Employees Organization, a distinguished partner collaborating with USAID, I present a crucial plea for timely promotions on behalf of Stock Assistants and equivalent para-veterinary staff, along with the lower staff employees of the Livestock and Fisheries Department Sindh.

Despite our persistent appeals, the flagrant disregard for established protocols and the manipulation of seniority lists have left numerous employees retiring without the well-deserved promotions. The stark absence of basic facilities for our fieldwork further compounds our challenges. Urgently, we seek your intervention to address:

1. The complete absence of promotion opportunities.

2. The lack of motorcycle facilities.

3. The deficiency in mobile unit provisions.

4. The unjust denial of risk allowances.

5. The elusive POL petrol allowances.

6. The withholding of safety equipment.

7. The unavailability of T.A D.A facilities.

8. The inaccessibility to medicine for fieldwork.

9. The mysterious diversion of newly constructed center equipment to higher authorities.

Our advocacy for fundamental rights has exposed us to retaliatory actions, including baseless inquiries initiated without any valid grounds. When we submit request applications to higher authorities, including the secretary, the destination of these applications remains unknown. The legitimacy of such actions remains unclear, prompting us to question which rules and laws permit reprisals against those advocating for their rights.

Despite possessing knowledge of the department's internal affairs, such as the allocation of Foreign funds from projects like JICA, AAP, ADP Schemes, instances of illegal appointments, and the substantial misallocation of 2 billion funds in just two months, we have maintained our silence. However, the time has come to demand accountability for our Para-Vets community, advocating for timescale promotion rights and legal facilities within the Livestock and Fisheries Department Sindh.

We earnestly appeal to you, Chief Minister, to prioritize the well-being and contentment of Livestock Department employees. The adage goes, "Former happy, then Sindh happy," but when the department's employees are left discontented and deprived of their basic legitimate rights, the happiness of farmers and Sindh itself is jeopardized.

Unveiling the Plight of Stock Assistant and Equalevant Para Vets Staff in Livestock & Fisheries Department Sindh

In the heart of the Sindh, in Pakistan, a silent struggle persists—one that echoes the overlooked voices of Stock Assistants and Equivalent Para Veterinary Staff. Despite their unwavering commitment to the welfare of livestock and rural communities, they find themselves continuously neglected by their own department.

 

The situation takes a more disheartening turn as corruption rears its head within the Livestock and Fisheries Department. Massive sums allocated for the development of rural and urban areas, small to medium farmers, and various project programs seemingly vanish into the abyss of corruption. Whether it's funds for Accelerated Action Plan (AAP), aids, or the annual budget, the fiscal resources meant for the upliftment of the livestock sector become entangled in a web of deceit.

Picture of Stock Assistant during Field work (Dadu Sindh)

(Dadu Sindh)

The urgency of this matter extends beyond the confines of departmental neglect—it is a call to human rights organizations to shed light on the inherent injustices faced by these dedicated individuals. The Stock Assistants and Equivalent Para Veterinary Staff are the backbone of livestock development, and their rights, both professional and human, demand acknowledgment.

In a world that champions transparency and fairness, the Livestock and Fisheries Department in Sindh stands as a stark contrast. It beckons the attention of human rights advocates, urging them to scrutinize and address the persistent negligence and corruption that hinders the progress of those striving for the betterment of the livestock sector.

Yet, amid the shadows of neglect and corruption, these unsung heroes persevere. Their plea is a call for justice, a plea for recognition, and a cry for a system that stands by its commitment to the well-being of those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.

As we unveil this chapter of struggle, let it be known that the voices of Stock Assistants and Equivalent Para Veterinary Staff resonate not only within the Livestock and Fisheries Department but also within the broader landscape of human rights. It is a call that echoes beyond the department's walls, reaching the ears of those who champion fairness, transparency, and justice.

The question remains: In the face of continued neglect and corruption, who will rise to address the urgent human rights issues plaguing the Livestock and Fisheries Department in Sindh, Pakistan?

Press Release: Urgent Meeting Called by Chairman Voice Of Sindh Para Veterinary Employees

Thatta, Sindh - Dated: 29-12-2023

In a decisive move, the Chairman of VSPVE (Voice Of Sindh Para Veterinary Employees) has called for an immediate meeting in Hyderabad. The meeting aims to gather all senior members of the Para Vets to discuss crucial matters affecting their community.

The Chairman, recognizing the gravity of the situation, has prioritized seeking the advice of senior Para Vets to determine the most effective course of action. The agenda includes deliberations on serious actions and final solutions to address the issues faced by the Para Veterinary Employees

Following this meeting, the VSPVE intends to engage in discussions with the higher authorities of the Livestock and Fisheries Department in Sindh. The organization is committed to finding a resolution that aligns with the concerns and recommendations of the senior Para Vets.

Further updates on the outcomes of these discussions will be communicated promptly to keep the Para Veterinary Employees and the public informed.