The CVA welcomes Dr Thanigaivelu, the new CVA Councillor for India. To find out more about Dr Thanigaivelu read his Q&As below

Q1. Tell us about you, your family and where you live?

I am Dr D Thanigaivelu, working as Chief Veterinary Surgeon at  Government Veterinary Hospital , Kalavai  in Ranipet District of Tamil Nadu State , India. My Wife Mrs Shanthy working as Primary School Teacher in Government School near Arcot. I have two children, Elder son Mr T Suchinder , studying Class 11 and my Younger Daughter Ms T Dayanisha studing class 6. Presently I am residing at Masapet, Arcot situated 100kms away from Chennai in Chennai –Bangalore highways. I am 47 years of age and completed 23 years of Service as Veterinary Surgeon.

 Q2. What is your favourite food?

I like all South Indian foods and Briyani is one of the most favourite food.

 Q3. Do you have any favourite music?

 All kinds of Indian music, especially tamil movie songs by Maestro Illayaraja and Music Director A R Rahman

 Q4. What is your favourite sport

Like most of the Indians my favourite sports is Cricket and Hockey

Q5. Tell up in a paragraph what your current veterinary position is.

I am working as Chief Veterinary Surgeon at Veterinary Hospital Kalavai which is Taluk Hospital in Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Tamil Nadu. It involves all clinical activities like Treatment, Surgeries, Breeding services and extension activities to livestock farmers.

Q6. What influenced you to become a veterinarian?

My mother maintained cows for her livelihood and the availability of Veterinary Services was less in our area. We have to travel a long distance by walk of up to 15 kms to our cows treated.  I was fascinated by the great abilities of the Senior Veterinarian Dr Singaravelu to treat and save the lives of Animals and got inspired by him to become a Veterinarian

Q7. What do you enjoy most about being a veterinarian?

The Satisfaction I get when an animal is relieved from its sufferings and pain is the most enjoyable moment . Apart from that the real satisfaction comes by improving the livelihood of rural farmers and creating a sustainable rural economy through Animal Husbandry practices.

Q8. What are some of the main challenges for you and your national veterinary association?

I real challenge faced by me is to Unite the Veterinarians of our country under one roof because of the diverse culture and language. Veterinarians of various states have their own problems like pay issues, lack of man power in their institutions and varied issues with Universities. Now our Indian Veterinary Association is working with Indian Government in bringing about policy changes that make uniform  National disease control measures and National breeding policies.

 Q9. How do you communicate to your organisation about the CVA and its activities?

Communication to the Veterinarians of the country is now mainly through social media networks like Whatsup, facebook, Telegram App and Twitter accounts.

 Q10. How do you think the CVA can assist you in your Councillor Role?

CVA can assist me by communicating with other prominent members of the organisation and exchange of ideas in the latest technologies and profitable practices in Animal Husbandry and latest knowledge in Companion Animal practice apart from understanding of Veterinary Curriculum in various universities in Common Wealth countries , so that these things can be updated to members of our Association by conducting seminars and work shops in our country.