Tamil Nadu - Chennai

First woman dean for Madras Veterinary College

R. Sujatha

WOMAN POWER: Lalitha John, the new dean of Madras Veterinary College. — PHOTO: S. THANTHONI

CHENNAI: While medical colleges in the city and elsewhere have seen women deans, it was not until Friday that the 103-year-old Madras Veterinary College had a woman heading the institution. Lalitha John's appointment as dean was made by N. Balaraman, the Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. She assumed charge on Monday.

Dr. Lalitha, one of the two girls among the 120 students admitted to the college in 1966, has followed in her father's footsteps. He belonged to the 1935 batch. It was not until 1948 that girls were admitted to the college, she recalls. Until the 1990s, only 14 students were girls. Today in a class of 120, at least 30 percent are girls. "Women veterinarians are a rarity. And we now have a woman as dean of the college," said Dr. Balaraman. Unlike in the city, veterinarians are part of the community in rural areas and hence there is more awareness. "Most girl students are from mofussil areas," she notes. Dr. Lalitha sees healthy competition as more women enter the profession. Personal tragedies have made her empathetic to her colleagues. Dr. Lalitha's father died when she was five and her husband died young. "I can empathise with girl students and women staff. With 33 years of service I would like to bring what I have learnt to the profession.

I would like to set up a crèche for the non-teaching staff."

She began her career at the vaccine research institute at Ranipet. She returned to MVC for post graduation and research. She has worked with the ICAR on projects such as studying resistance to Helminthic disease in sheep and goats.

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