The proposal for establishment of Second Veterinary College in Assam was first submitted by the Hon’ble Minister of Veterinary, Govt. of Assam and the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Assam to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Regional Committee Meeting held at Guwahati on 5th and 6th July, 1985. The proposal was based on the need of about 1400 additional veterinary doctors to carry out the various developmental works of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of the state of Assam in the 7th Five Year Plan period. The ICAR has agreed in principle the necessity of second Veterinary College in Assam and requested the Vice-Chancellor, Assam Agricultural University to submit a formal proposal to the ICAR. Subsequently, Govt. of Assam constituted a site selection committee. Based on the report of the Committee, the Joyhing Grant No. 65 under Tribal Belt was considered for establishment of second Veterinary College and directed the Assam Agricultural University to establish the college. As a result, the second veterinary college named as Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science (LCVSc) was established on 1st April, 1987 at a temporary site in Azad, North Lakhimpur within the campus of the office of B.C.P.P. scheme of A.H. and Veterinary Department, Govt. of Assam.
The present site of LCVSc at Joyhing is 11 km away from the Circuit House of the North Lakhimpur town. The black topped PWD road viz., Veterinary College Road with a total distance of 13.5 km was constructed by the PWD in 2001-2002 connecting the other campus at Upper Joyhing. The Upper Joyhing campus in future will be developed for integrated farming system. Distance between the two campuses is 2.5 km. The College is located 7km way from Lilabari Airport and 4km from Lilabari Railway Station.
Growth of institutionThe academic session of the Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science (LCVSc) started from February, 1988 in the temporary site at Azad, North Lakhimpur. A total of 20 students were admitted every year for the B.V.Sc. & A.H. degree programme carried out as per Academic Regulations of AAU. In December, 1988, ICAR, New Delhi had accredited the College but expressed inability to give any financial assistance during the 7th Five Year Plan. Till 2004-05 academic session, the College admitted a total of 320 (16 batches) students in Azad campus of which only 86 students from initial 5 batches graduated out from LCVSc, Azad. The remaining students, although got admitted in LCVSc, Azad, they graduated out from College of Veterinary Science (CVSc), Khanapara. This was because the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) course curriculum was introduced from 1994-95 academic session onwards. The VCI inspectors visited the Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science (LCVSc), Azad during 1994 and 1995 and pointed out the inadequate infrastructure facility and advised the AAU authority to take appropriate remedial measures by shifting the College from temporary site (Azad) to permanent site (Joyhing). The AAU Authority decided in 1996-97 to temporarily suspend admission at LCVSc, Azad, and transfer the existing batches of students under VCI curriculum at Azad to CVSc, Khanapara. However, from 1998-99 academic session onwards the students allotted to LCVSc, Azad, used to study only first year in this College and from 2nd year onwards in CVSc, Khanapara. This practice continued till the academic session 2004-05. The VCI inspectors again visited the LCVSc in 2004 and directed the AAU Authority to develop the academic departments as per the VCI guidelines and to shift to its permanent site at Joyhing as the laboratory spaces in the Azad campus for all the academic departments were inadequate.
In March, 2005, the VCI empowered team visited LCVSc, Azad and directed the AAU Authority to stop further new admission in LCVSc till the adequate infrastructure as per VCI norms was developed in Joyhing campus (permanent site) of LCVSc. The Secretary, VCI, New Delhi vide Council letter No. F. No. 6-2(2)97-VCI/694 dated 29-4-05 conveyed the decision of the council to AAU Authority for withdrawal of the recognition of the qualification of the University in respect of LCVSc, North Lakhimpur. Following the direction of VCI, the AAU Authority suspended the admission of students in 1st year BVSc & AH class in LCVSc, Azad in 2005-06 academic session onwards.
In order to re-establish the College as per VCI guidelines, the AAU Authority had requested the Govt. of Assam to release sufficient fund for development of infrastructure in the Lower Joyhing campus of North Lakhimpur. With the approval of the VCI, New Delhi, AAU Authority had permitted to open the academic programme and admitted 22 nos. of students in the Academic session 2014-15 and 30 numbers of students in 2015-16 academic session.
Present status of institutionThe Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science is at its nascent stage and in the long march the College is poised to grow as a premier institute. The increased realization of the importance of the veterinary profession coupled with the man power needed to handle the veterinary and animal husbandry activities of the region will be the driving force in the growth and development of this institution in the coming decades. The Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science is a constituent of Assam Agricultural University imparting undergraduate teaching in the discipline of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry. The number of students enrolled in the first year BVSc & AH degree is presently 30. Besides imparting teaching, the Institute carries out field oriented researches in animal husbandry and veterinary and also provides extension services amongst the professionals and farmers with the aim of technology transfer. The Institute also provides expert services to the government departments of Assam and neighboring Arunachal Pradesh. The Institute also provides expert services in the management and health care of wild life in the sanctuaries and national parks of the region.
The Institute thrives for human resource development to cater to the needs of the farmers and breeders and to bring about sustainable improvement in the livestock and poultry production through improved breeding, feeding, management and health care. The Associate Dean is the administrative and academic head of the Institution.
Presently, the College is having 15 departments, one temporary library and numbers of instructional farms. There is 1 boys’ hostel and a temporary girls’ hostel, a large playground and a medical health care unit taking care of the residential needs of the students and faculty. The students are provided with basic minimum facilities in the hostels; however, further addition of some of the basic amenities is required. A new girls’ hostel is coming up to accommodate more number of girls.
The College has a Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) which is headed by i/c TVCC. Besides providing yeoman services to the farmers by way of treating their animals, the TVCC of the Institute provides hands on practical training to the students on clinical subjects.
To look after the welfare of the students, the Assam Agricultural University has a Directorate of Students’ Welfare which at the level of Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science is headed by i/c Deputy Director of Students’ Welfare (i/c DDSW). The i/c DDSW is responsible for all the welfare activities of the students including sports and games, cultural activities, advisement, election to students’ union etc.
There is an ‘Academic Cell’ under the Associate Dean’s establishment that looks after the UG degree programme.
The construction and maintenance of the buildings and other physical facilities of the college is carried out by an establishment of the Directorate of Physical Plant of the University housed at the Khanapara Campus at CVSc, Guwahati. The College is also having a Security Cell under Associate Dean’s establishment.
Under the Associate Dean, Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, there is an Education Technology Cell. A Placement Cell will be created in the near future when the students reach their final years of BVSc and AH programme.
