Even the agricultural field, which is still the backbone of the Indian economy, is over-staffed and suffering from disguised unemployment. Only a few states are exceptions to this rule. Realising this crisis, the West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, only the second veterinary university in the country, has taken up a unique programme to help neo-literates in villages set up livestock farms and fisheries, an area that is yet to be utilised to its full potential.

The Directorate of Research, Extension & Farms, under the University, has drawn up schemes for floating different sorts of farms, like poultry, pig and duck farms as well as fisheries. The directorate is imparting the basic knowledge ofrunning these units to the new literates and also helping them formulate economically viable schemes, which will enable them to qualify for financial aid from banks and governmental sources.

The university established the directorate for monitoring research, extension and farm activities in the fields of veterinary and animal sciences, dairy technology and fishery sciences.

Director D N Jana emphasised that the sector has immense potential for creating self-employment. ``Livestock keeping and fisheries hold immense potential for providing round-the-year income. It also holds employment opportunities for a large number of small, marginal farmers and agricultural workers. Our university is set to disseminate the various technological advances made in this field to enhance livestock and fish production. Necessary training and know-how is imparted to students, field workers and farmers, the educated unemployed and neo-literates for self-employment,'' he said.

Recently, the university exhibited all itsprogrammes at a fair held in the city. The fair was called the Vidyasagar Mela, and was a part of the literacy campaign in West Bengal. Arunasish Goswami, assistant director (extension), discussed in detail the programmes of the directorate.

``After the successful land reforms programme in West Bengal, the state government wants that the villages not be dependent on agriculture alone. Livestock farming and fisheries will form an important component of the village economy. So, for the reconstruction of the villages, we are organising training sessions. The sessions will also be for those who are involved in this business, but not aware of the proper techniques. This will improve the productivity of the farms and, in turn, the profitability,'' Goswami said.

The directorate has already organised such training centres in the past. A model village was identified by it in North 24 Parganas, where 20 people were selected as beneficiaries. They were trained to float a pig farm. A similar project was also carriedout at the Sabang village of the Midnapore district. At Haringhata, a fish-cum-pig farm was also established.

Says Goswami: ``These farms were established by the residents of those areas, but we were constantly in touch with them and helped in all possible ways. Now we find that the units are running profitably and similar projects can be undertaken in other parts of the state also.''

The directorate has also identified schemes of the Central and state governments for financial help. This includes the Prime Minister'sRojgar Yojana and the Integrated Rural Development Project. Goswami added that they are organising seminars all over the state for creating awareness among the villagers regarding these schemes.

The West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences was established on January 2, 1995, by a legislative act of the West Bengal government. Prior to that, veterinary education in the state has been imparted by the same institution under the name of Bengal Veterinary College under the Universityof Calcutta, since 1893. In 1974, the college was merged with the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, another university engaged in agricultural studies.

B B Mallick, vice chancellor, explained the goals of the university. ``It is our endeavor to impart the best educational instruction to our students and organise a learned faculty and pursue excellent contemporary research programmes and finally extend the relevant research results to the grassroot level for rural prosperity,'' he said.

The university offers two sets of integrated courses -- four years and five years -- for undergraduates. In the five-year courses, it offers Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Bachelor of Animal Husbandry degrees. In its four-year courses, it offers B Tech in Dairy Technology and Bachelor of Fishery Sciences degrees.

It also offers two-year post-graduate degrees: a Master's in Veterinary Sciences and M Tech in Dairy Technology. Three-year doctoral courses are also offered in Dairy Technology and Veterinary Sciences.