Malkana (Bathinda), October 11
Malkana—a village renowned for cotton yield—is a distinctive case of what often lies underneath the glittering facade of a prosperous state like Punjab.
Punjab is advertised as one of the most well-off states in the country, yet in villages like Malkana— poverty, unhygienic living conditions, contaminated water, prevalence of horrible disease like cancer and above all, official apathy towards the needs of the people—are still squeezing the life here.
Though the state health authorities and the political leadership highlighted the epidemic form of cancer disease in this region, during previous polls, they apparently forgot to take fruitful steps for public welfare later on. In the absence of government’s attention and poor economic status, the village is resorting towards some black magical tricks presuming as a treatment to their grave disease.
During a visit to the village, residents told this correspondent that dozens of persons had fallen prey to different forms of cancer in the past. They disclosed that about six deaths had taken place in the past four month.
Meantime, cursing their fate, they collectively alleged that neither any medical assistance nor any awareness campaign was launched for them. Moreover, the recommended cases for medical aid, even after short listing, remained a distant dream. Ironically, some of the patients succumbed to the disease but no aid could be lent from the state government.
Sitting beside the under installation reverse osmosis (RO) plant in the village, a group of elderly residents of the village, were found quite depressed due to the affect of the disease.
Hesitant in talking over the issue, they said, “Except giving bad name to our village, your news will serve no purpose as the state government is so heartless that even after receiving number of applications for medical aid, nothing took place but the patients left the world.”
Later, speaking about the cancer-inflicted deaths; they named a 60-year-old Gurcharan Singh, who had died of stomach cancer, about a month back. Further, they spoke at length about Kaur Singh, who after struggling for seven months, had died about four months back at the age of 63 due to mouth cancer.
Naming 40-year-old Gurdeep Kaur, who died on July 1, this year, they said that she was suffering from throat cancer. Another woman of the village, Jaswinder Kaur, in the same age group, lost her life on August 5 due to breast cancer. One 52-year-old Golo Kaur, suffering the uterus cancer passed away on September 5, this year.
“The list of Cancer deaths is very long, which has now started creating hurdle in weddings of village youths as knowing about the disease affected status of the village, outsiders hardly come forward to marry their children in this village,” said Baldev Singh.
An educated woman of the village, seeking anonymity said, “It is the need of the hour that government swings into action. Though the RO plant in village has started working, officials must pay attention for the treatment of already cancer affected victims of the village.”
Malkana—a village renowned for cotton yield—is a distinctive case of what often lies underneath the glittering facade of a prosperous state like Punjab.
Punjab is advertised as one of the most well-off states in the country, yet in villages like Malkana— poverty, unhygienic living conditions, contaminated water, prevalence of horrible disease like cancer and above all, official apathy towards the needs of the people—are still squeezing the life here.
Though the state health authorities and the political leadership highlighted the epidemic form of cancer disease in this region, during previous polls, they apparently forgot to take fruitful steps for public welfare later on. In the absence of government’s attention and poor economic status, the village is resorting towards some black magical tricks presuming as a treatment to their grave disease.
During a visit to the village, residents told this correspondent that dozens of persons had fallen prey to different forms of cancer in the past. They disclosed that about six deaths had taken place in the past four month.
Meantime, cursing their fate, they collectively alleged that neither any medical assistance nor any awareness campaign was launched for them. Moreover, the recommended cases for medical aid, even after short listing, remained a distant dream. Ironically, some of the patients succumbed to the disease but no aid could be lent from the state government.
Sitting beside the under installation reverse osmosis (RO) plant in the village, a group of elderly residents of the village, were found quite depressed due to the affect of the disease.
Hesitant in talking over the issue, they said, “Except giving bad name to our village, your news will serve no purpose as the state government is so heartless that even after receiving number of applications for medical aid, nothing took place but the patients left the world.”
Later, speaking about the cancer-inflicted deaths; they named a 60-year-old Gurcharan Singh, who had died of stomach cancer, about a month back. Further, they spoke at length about Kaur Singh, who after struggling for seven months, had died about four months back at the age of 63 due to mouth cancer.
Naming 40-year-old Gurdeep Kaur, who died on July 1, this year, they said that she was suffering from throat cancer. Another woman of the village, Jaswinder Kaur, in the same age group, lost her life on August 5 due to breast cancer. One 52-year-old Golo Kaur, suffering the uterus cancer passed away on September 5, this year.
“The list of Cancer deaths is very long, which has now started creating hurdle in weddings of village youths as knowing about the disease affected status of the village, outsiders hardly come forward to marry their children in this village,” said Baldev Singh.
An educated woman of the village, seeking anonymity said, “It is the need of the hour that government swings into action. Though the RO plant in village has started working, officials must pay attention for the treatment of already cancer affected victims of the village.”
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