Cancer - Punjab's Malwa region

Cancer - Punjab's Malwa region (States Cotton Belt) South of Satluj River has 10 Districts. - Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Ferojpur, Sangrur and Mansa. These districts r fighting battle against Hydra - headed Health issue. Cancer is abig problem in these districts.

People of this region took' Abohar - Jodhpur Passenger Train' to reach Bikaner for cheap treatment of Cancer. This train is known as 'Cancer train' too in this region.

The first Alarm was raised in the late 1980's, When farmers in Jajjal noticed that Peacocks had disappeared from Farms, Fields. Studies have pointed to a link between Unprotected and Over use of Pesticides with onset of Cancer. Of Top 15 Pesticides used for pest- intensive Cotton Crop in Punjab, the US's EPA considers 7 (seven) as possible, likely' probable or known human Carcinogens. Heavy Metal Toxicity in Ground Water and Rivers. 70 to 100 patient travel to Bikaner every night through " Abohar - Jodhpur " train , which is also known as Cancer Train.

Doctor's at Faridkot Medical College receive at least 30 to 35 new cases daily. Pesticides in fields is not enough farmers used empty pesticide cans to store Water and Food after cleaning the cans, which is strictly prohibited and banned. This thing has worsen the condition.
Every village with a population of 3,000 to 5,000 has at least 30 Cancer cases in a period of 8 to 10 years.
The Govt's Cancer registry program for 2004 - 05 found a Cancer prevalence rate of 68 to 115 per 1,00,000 for Male for Women 92 to 116.5.
Thus in the whole Malawa region which has 1.5 + crore population; there are 12,000 + Cancer patients.
In Bathinda district which has 14+ lakhs population, the Cancer cases are about 1,500.
Most important - Uncontrolled pesticides - Punjab farmers used uncontrolled pesticides. As against 570 gram / ha of National average Punjab used 923 g / ha. In Fertilizer National average - 131 gram / ha. Punjab used 3809 gram / ha.