Despite government promises, Assam's veterinary infrastructure is severely lacking, leaving over 1.2 crore animals without adequate care and exposing critical gaps in support for farmers and pet owners
Despite promises and grand announcements by the state government, the ground reality reveals a woefully inadequate infrastructure that has left both animals and their owners in the lurch. According to official data confirmed by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, the state has a population of over 1.2 crore animals. Yet, the facilities available to ensure their health and well-being are grossly insufficient.
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Talking to GPlus, a source in Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary said, "Out of 3,466 registered veterinary doctors in Assam, only 752 are actually practicing in government hospitals and dispensaries."
This gap between availability and deployment of medical professionals paints a bleak picture of the government’s failure to manage one of the most critical sectors of the rural economy.
One would think that with over a crore of livestock depending on proper care and treatment, the government would ensure a robust infrastructure and workforce. However, the reality is far from it. With only 752 veterinary doctors actively practicing, the state faces a severe shortage of medical professionals in this sector.
Talking to GPlus, an official from Animal Husbandry and Veterinary said, "The strength for veterinary officers is set at 703, but currently, only 626 are in position. Similarly, out of 2,089 posts for veterinary field assistants, just 1,494 are filled."
This shortage means that the vast majority of livestock in Assam, particularly in rural areas, remain deprived of timely medical care. Farmers who depend on these animals for their livelihood often have no option but to travel long distances to the nearest veterinary facility, only to find it understaffed and underequipped.
Guwahati is home to just one veterinary hospital. With a population of over 1 million people and thousands of pets and livestock, this singular facility is a clear sign of the government’s lack of prioritization. To make matters worse, there are only four sub-centres in the entire city, with few dispensaries available to cater to the Kamrup Metro area.
Veterinary hospitals across Assam are few and far between, and the situation is made worse by the fact that many of these facilities lack the necessary resources. One official, speaking to GPlus said, official from the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department, speaking to GPlus, said, "We do not have enough hospitals for animal treatment, and even the ones we have lack proper vehicles to transport doctors or equipment. Because of this, a lot of important services are falling behind and animals are not getting the care they need on time."
The official also mentioned, "We do not have rescue vans, which makes it really hard to respond quickly when animals need to be rescued or treated urgently. Without proper transport, we cannot reach them in time, and it is a big challenge in emergencies."
"With 35 districts in Assam, ideally, each district should have at least one or two rescue vans. Unfortunately, we are lacking in this area, and most districts do not have any rescue vans at all. This makes it really hard to respond quickly when animals are in need of immediate help", he added.
However, he also added, "We do have mobile veterinary units available, and if anyone needs assistance, they can dial the helpline number 1962."
In what seems like a half-hearted attempt to address the crisis, the government has announced the construction of a few new veterinary hospitals.
Talking to GPlus, the official from the department said, "Three pet animal hospitals are slated to come up in Bokakhat (Rs 8.29 crores), Dibrugarh (Rs 8.10 crores), and Birubari (Rs12.53 crores)."
Additionally, five multi-care hospitals have been promised, with confirmed projects in Changsari, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, and Tinsukia, while a proposed hospital in Sivasagar remains in limbo.
While these new projects may sound promising on paper, they do little to address the immediate concerns of farmers and pet owners. These hospitals, even when completed, will be just a drop in the ocean. They cannot possibly bridge the massive gap that currently exists in veterinary care across the state.
The government boasts about having 452 dispensaries and 762 sub-centres across Assam. However, a closer look reveals that these numbers are nothing more than empty statistics. When questioned about the availability of doctors at these centres, an official admitted that "since there are not sufficient doctors, not many doctors are there in these centres."
When asked about the availability of doctors at the veterinary sub-centres, an official from the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department said, "We do not have enough doctors, so many of these centres are running without any doctors on-site."
Adding to the chaos is the lack of coordination between various government agencies. Talking to GPlus, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), for instance, claims to have registered 66 pet shops under its jurisdiction. While this may seem like a positive step towards regulating the pet trade, it does little to address the larger issue of veterinary care in the city.