VBU ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR ANIMAL DISSECTION

DHANBAD: Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) has issued fresh guidelines to the affiliated colleges to form a dissection monitoring committee that would ensure adherence to guidelines of University Grants Commission regarding animal dissection in laboratories.

VBU vice chancellor Dr Gurdeep Singh said the university has already implemented the guidelines but adherence will soon be ensured in the colleges. “The fresh circular regarding animal dissection has been circulated to all the constituted as well as affiliated colleges,” said Dr Singh, adding that computer simulation in place of animal dissection in lab experiments would be given priority.

According to the UGC guidelines, all educational institutions shall prescribe laboratory curriculum involving animals in such a way so as to be compassionate with the animal. Experiments done on animals only to acquire skills should be avoided while those animals protected under the wildlife protection Act 1972 must not be used. Besides abiding by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, teaching devices such as books, models, films should be used wherever felt sufficient.

College authorities have disagreed. “It is illogical. How will a student get practical knowledge if he is prevented from dissecting animals and insects in laboratories?,” said a college principal in Dhanbad. “Thousands of animals including stray dogs to oxen die daily due to different reasons but the government doesn’t take initiative to protect them. Various insecticides and pesticides are sold to kill insects. The government should first ban them. Students dissect animals or insects to gain practical knowledge as it is the need of the curriculum,” maintained the principal.

COMPUTER SIMULATION IN PLACE OF ANIMAL DISSECTION IN LAB EXPERIMENTS WOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY