Minister for Animal Husbandry Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan ruled out National Eligibility- cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission into the veterinary courses offered by the veterinary colleges attached to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) in the State.
Speaking to presspersons at Attur near here on Monday, Mr. Radhakrishnan said that there is also no possibility of opening of new government veterinary colleges in the State and increasing the seats in the existing government veterinary colleges.
In case of any need for new government veterinary colleges in the State, steps will be taken after holding consultation with the Chief Minister, he said.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said that his department has proposed to set up modern fodder production centres at the Sheep Research Station in Mecheri and in Kooturodu near Attur to popularise suitable package among farmers for increased fodder production. This will enable in augmenting milk production in the state. The funds for the project will be sanctioned after finalising the sites.
He said that the State Government has proposed to breed superior variety goats in the department farms for the provision to the weaker sections under the free cattle scheme. The government has proposed to enter into MoU with University of Oklahoma in United States for the breeding of superior variety cattle.
All the chicken and cattle provided to the beneficiaries under the priceless scheme will be produced in government farms alone in future.
He said that the government has provided free goats to 8.82 lakh families and cows to 80,000 families in the last seven years from 2011 to 2018.
The government has proposed to give free goats to 1.5 lakh families and cows to 15,000 beneficiaries during the current year.
Later speaking at the inaugural of the jallikattu in Koodamalai near Thammampatti, Mr. Radhakrishnan said that the government received 383 applications for the holding of jallikattu across the state during the current year.
The government after considering the various security aspects gave nod for the holding of jallikattu in 284 centres. The events were conducted as per the norms successfully in all these centres.
Referring to the holding of jallikattu in Salem district, the Minister said that jallikattu was successfully conducted in four centres Gangavalli, Manjini, Sentharapatti and Koodamalai in Gangavalli Assembly constituency alone in the district.
The organisers through the Salem district administration have submitted applications for holding jallikattu in three more centres – Singipuram, Keeripatti and Ulipuram. Permission for the event will be accorded in these three centres too soon, he added.
