THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture Minister V. S. Sunil Kumar has drawn criticism from a section of senior animal husbandry officials for giving additional charge as MD of Meat Products of India to state Horticultural Mission director K. Prathapan, who is facing a few Vigilance inquiries. Mr Prathapan, with only agriculture background, lacks the requisite qualifications in either meat processing or marketing, they said.
Government sources told DC that Mr Prathapan has already been holding the additional charge as managing director of Kerala Feeds Ltd as per a decision taken by the previous UDF government. He was made the MD of MPI last week. A section of AH senior officials told DC that the officials belonging to Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation Ltd and Kerala Livestock Development Board with the requisite qualifications and experience were being denied the MD post. They also alleged that Mr Prathapan was facing a few Vigilance inquiries during his stint with the Horticorp.
“Previously, officials with veterinary background were appointed as MD of MPI. But as per a special order recently, an official with either bachelor in veterinary sciences or MBA degree was called for the post of MD of MPI, which has been violated now by the government,” said AH officials. Dr. K. R. Arun Kumar, state president of Kerala Government Veterinary Officers Association, maintained that the MD post at MPI was political.
