The Punjab Government has banned the manufacture, import and use of pesticides which are very injurious to health and causing cancer. These actions, among others, have been taken by the State Government in response to National Human Right’s Commission's (NHRC) suo motu cognizance of a report that alleged that the disease of cancer among farmers in the Malwa region of Punjab is caused by the excessive use of pesticides on the crops.Quoting NHRC sources Our Jalandhar Correspondent reports that the state has accepted that the consumption of pesticides is on the higher side in Malwa region on account of growing of cotton crop. It has made arrangements for educating farmers on judicious use of pesticides and their healthcare.About 70-100 cancer patients are going daily by train to Bikaner from Bathinda for free cancer treatment and cheap medicines. These patients are mostly small farmers from Malwa region of the state including Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur and Mansa.State has also taken many steps to provide cheap treatment to cancer patients. These include financial assistance to patients from BPL families and others. Free treatment to school children suffering from the deadly disease. Free travel facility in Punjab Roadways and PRTC Buses to cancer patients for availing treatment and setting up of super specialty cancer hospitals in the state.