End stipend disparity, demand vet students

FOR over a month, veterinary science students across Andhra Pradesh, including those at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) in Tirupati, have been protesting against low stipends.

- S GURU SRIKANTH @ Vijayawada

FOR over a month, veterinary science students across Andhra Pradesh, including those at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) in Tirupati, have been protesting against low stipends. They demand a revision, citing stark disparities: Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) interns receive ₹7,000 per month—unchanged since 2013—while MBBS interns earn ₹25,906. Postgraduate veterinary students get ₹9,000, compared to ₹64,000 for medical counterparts, and Ph.D. scholars receive ₹10,000.

"This is blatant injustice," said P Naswar Khan, president of the Andhra Pradesh Veterinary Students and Graduates Association. With around 2,000 students across four veterinary colleges, Tirupati, Gannavaram, Proddatur, and Garividi—and 300 final-year interns, including 69 at Garividi, frustration is mounting.