PHAGWARA: Cancer has emerged as a serious public health crisis in Punjab, claiming the lives of an average of eight women every day. Drawing the attention of Parliament to this alarming situation, Rajya Sabha Member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal raised the issue during the first phase of the ongoing Budget Session through a Special Mention, terming it a matter directly linked to the very existence of Punjab.
Referring to the latest data presented by the Union Ministry of Health in the Rajya Sabha, Sant Seechewal informed the House that nearly 2, 700 women are reported to have died due to cancer in Punjab during the year 2025 alone. These figures translate into an average of eight deaths every day. According to the same report, a total of 13, 299 women lost their lives to cancer in the state between 2021 and 2025, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
He further pointed out that breast cancer accounts for the highest number of fatalities, with 7, 186 deaths recorded during this period. Cervical cancer follows with 3, 502 deaths, while cancer of the uterus has claimed 2, 611 women. Sant Seechewal said these statistics are not merely numbers but a stark warning sign for society and policymakers alike.
Expressing deep concern, he noted that cancer cases are rising rapidly even among women aged between 50 and 56 years, indicating that the disease is no longer confined to old age. This trend, he said, reflects a broader environmental and public health failure that requires urgent intervention.
Highlighting the possible causes behind the growing cancer burden, Sant Seechewal attributed a significant role to environmental pollution, particularly contaminated drinking water. He told the House that excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture is having a direct and harmful impact on human health. Citing past experiences, he recalled that hazardous chemicals such as DDT were banned only after their residues were found in mothers’ breast milk, exposing the long-term consequences of unchecked chemical use.