Lucknow: Highlighting the impact of a consumption-driven society on humans, animals, and environment as was evident during Covid-19 pandemic, President Droupadi Murmu called upon doctors and researchers to allow compassion and empathy to guide their work, especially in their service to animals.Awarding 24 medals and degrees to 576 graduates at the 11th convocation ceremony of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly on Monday, the President recalled her own connection with nature and spoke about the bond between humans and animals.“This relationship is much like that of a family. While we now live in a modern, tech-driven world, in earlier times animals were our tools and companions. Farmers could not progress without them. Animals were once considered our wealth, and life without them was unimaginable,” she said, adding that Indian culture believes that the divine is present in all living beings.Expressing concern over the decreasing visibility of domestic animals in rural areas, Murmu added that such animals have historically supported agriculture, but as one embraced technology, essential soil partners like earthworms started vanishing, leading to barren land. She said that restoring soil fertility would require collective efforts from farmers, scientists, veterinarians, and citizens.The President referred to the decline in vulture populations, stating how it was partly due to chemical drugs used in veterinary treatments. A ban on such drugs would be a commendable step towards vulture conservation, she said.She highlighted that many other species were either extinct or on the verge of extinction and called for biodiversity conservation for ecological balance.“Institutions like IVRI should lead by example in enhancing biodiversity. The institute has achieved numerous milestones in its 135-year journey, from research contributions of scientists, patents, designs, and copyrights held by the institute. It is a matter of pride that IVRI developed several vaccines under the National Animal Disease Control Programme,” she said.The President urged officials to organise Animal Health Melas to promote grassroots-level animal care and suggested that veterinary camps in villages could play a vital role in strengthening public health.Congratulating the medal winners and degree recipients, the President expressed delight at the strong presence of female awardees, calling it an encouraging sign of women’s growing role in veterinary science. She spoke about how women traditionally cared for cows and other animals within households, noting that this deep-rooted connection makes their participation in the veterinary field especially meaningful.Appreciating the role of the Animal Science Incubator at IVRI in promoting entrepreneurship and start-ups in veterinary science, Murmu encouraged students to set up ventures that would not only generate employment but also contribute to the national economy, calling upon the alumni to guide such initiatives.Stressing the importance of the concept of ‘One Health’, which views human, animal, plant, and environmental health as interconnected, Murmu urged everyone to follow this principle and to actively work towards animal welfare. As a premier veterinary institute, she said, IVRI could play a significant role in the control and prevention of genetic diseases.The President pointed out that technology has the potential to revolutionise veterinary medicine and care. “Institutions like IVRI should use cutting-edge technologies to develop affordable and indigenous solutions for diagnosing animal diseases and improving nutrition. Efforts should also be made to identify alternatives to harmful drugs that have adverse effects not only on animals but also on humans and the environment,” the President said.
