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Everyday, the dimly lit and shabby <keyword id="30587" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="bhatinda">Bhatinda</keyword> railway station in the Indian state of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=punjab&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Punjab</a> comes to life sharp at 9 pm. The reason? The arrival of a passenger train that’s been long christened as the <keyword id="739669" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cancer-Train">Cancer train</keyword> on platform no 2. 
 
The train leaves Bhatinda around 9.25 pm and covers a distance of about 325 km with 26 halts to reach <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=bikaner&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Bikaner</a> in the Indian state of Rajasthan at 6 am. Sometimes, it’s an hour or two late. 
 
The most remarkable feature of this train is that 60% of its population are <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=cancer&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">cancer</a> patients of all ages who come from all across <keyword id="6354953" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Punjab">Punjab</keyword>. This 12-coach train has gained its name from a sudden increase in cancer cases in Punjab that many blame on pesticide use, growing pollution and hardly any response by authorities. 
 
On an average, this train is the lifeline of 100 cancer patients daily, along with 200 other co-travellers and is almost always packed to near capacity. 
 The ticket is priced at Rs 210, but for cancer patients the eight hour journey to <keyword id="1380" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="bikaner">Bikaner</keyword> is free, while one accompanying attendant gets a concession of 75 percent. 
 
 
(Passemgers aboard the Cancer train. Image credit: Washington Post) 
 
 
All the patients aboard the train undertake this journey to visit Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Prince Bijay Singh Memorial Hospital, in Bikaner, which like many hospitals in Punjab is also covered for benefits under the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme (MMPCRKS). 
 
One of them is a frail 68-year-old Madan Lal who along with his sister boards the sleeper coach, the only compartment with reserved seats, which allows him to lie down on the seat. 
 
All the remaining coaches are of the general category, where passengers jostle to find space. 
 
Lal, who hails from Mallan village in Faridkot district of Punjab has been undergoing treatment for cancer in his food pipe since the last year and has made over 30 visits to the Bikaner hospital. 
 
The first question that comes to mind is invariably this, ‘Why are scores of cancer patients from Punjab travelling to a far-off place in Rajasthan for treatment when Punjab itself boasts of state of the art facilities for cancer treatment?’ 
 
No matter how many people you ask, the answer for that is the same, and equally alarming. As Lal reveals, he did go to Faridkot Government Hospital more than four times last year when his condition deteriorated, however he never got a chance to see any doctor despite waiting for long hours. 
 
 
(Patients line up in Bikaner. Image credit: The Tribune) 
 
 
Additionally, the fact that it is incredibly hard to avail the cash incentives under MMPCRKS in Punjab without any political connection and that the poor are almost always neglected in the government hospital in the state has also attributed to patients taking to the hospital in Bikaner, which is one of the country’s 19 regional cancer research centres and for the cancer-striken in Punjab, the nearest place where treatment is free, and medicines cheap. 
 
Take for instance, Surjeet Kaur, who spent Rs 30,000 in Bhatinda hospitals for chemotherapy for breast cancer or Satya Devi who spent close to Rs 1 lakh for therapy on a cancerous growth on her lip. In the end, both fo them had to go to Bikaner anyway. 
 
Lodging and food in Bikaner come cheap too, making it a lucrative option for patients. A room at a dharamshala in Bikaner costs Rs 50, while a thali in the hospital canteen is only Rs 5. 
 The patients on this train are mostly small farmers from the southern districts of Punjab- Mansa, Sangrur, Bhatinda, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepur and Sangrur, which together make up the <keyword id="602657" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Malwa-region">Malwa region</keyword>. 
 
It is in this Malwa region that scores of farmers and their families are coming to grips with cancer and numerous health problems due to the lush fields hiding a scary tale. 
 Malwa, which is also Punjab’s cotton belt, requires the use of a startling amount of <keyword id="6444775" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="pesticides">pesticides</keyword>. Reportedly, farmers in this region use 15 different pesticide sprays and the unregulated and excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have resulted in farmers and their families living in a cesspool of toxicity. 
 
 
(A farmer sprays pesticides in his field. Image credit: Al Jazeera) 
 
 
In 2011, it was also found that Punjab’s farmers use of pesticides is 923 grams per hectare was way above the national average of 570g/ha. Even worse is the fact that farmers also end up using the empty pesticide cans to store not only water but also food, which get contaminated with high heavy-metal toxicity. 
 
The residents have little choice than to drink highly polluted water or bathe in tap water that are sourced from canals where industrial effluents are discharged with impunity. 
 Many of the farmers blame the success of the 1970’s <keyword id="50335" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Green-Revolution">Green Revolution</keyword> for their sorry state right now. It was during then that the farmers had switched to a combo formula of high yield seeds-fertilizers-pesticide-water from traditional farming methods. 
 
Though, a few years ago, the Punjab government set up water purifiers in villages prone to cancer cases, but it was of little help as those were not cleaned properly. 
 
Meanwhile, hundreds of patients crowd the platform to get on the train hoping against hope while there continues to be atleast 18 deaths due to cancer in the state everyday. 
 
 
(Cancer patients get down from the train in Bikaner. Image credit: The Tribune)

The shocking tale of India's 'Cancer Train'

Union Minister <keyword id="351960" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arjun-Ram-Meghwal">Arjun Ram Meghwal</keyword> is contesting from Bikaner, where he will face off 8 candidates. His cousin Madan Gopal Meghwal, who belongs to Indian National Congress, is also in the fray. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Name Of Candidate </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Party Affiliation </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;">Symbol Allotted </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Bharatiya Janata Party </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Lotus </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> BHAIRA RAM </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Bahujan Samaj Party </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Elephant </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;">MADAN GOPAL MEGHWAL </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;">Indian National Congress </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Hand </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> SHYOPAT RAM </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;">Communist Party of India (Marxist) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;">Hammer, Sickle and Star </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> GHANSHYAM MEGHWAL </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Ambedkarite Party of India </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Coat </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> TRILOKI NARAYAN HATILA </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Jan Sangharsh Virat Party </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Auto- Rickshaw </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> PUNAM CHAND ALIAS PUNEET DHAL </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Hindusthan Nirman Dal </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Water Tank </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> ARJUN RAM </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Independent </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Air Conditioner </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #282828 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> BABULAL </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #282828 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Independent </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #282828 1pt;border-bottom:solid #282828 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;"> Camera </td></tr></tbody></table>

In Bikaner, Arjun Ram Meghwal will face off 8 candidates

India’s largest lender <keyword id="6354731" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="State-Bank-Of-India">State Bank of India</keyword> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/SBI-aims-for-unbanked-rural-India-for-business-correspondent-model/articleshow/53315581.cms">SBI</a>) has approved the merger of its operations with six associate banks, viz. <keyword id="6560713" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Travancore">State Bank of Travancore</keyword>, <keyword id="4376211" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Mysore">State Bank of Mysore</keyword>, <keyword id="4376209" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="State-Bank-Of-Bikaner-and-Jaipur">State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur</keyword>, <keyword id="143585" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Hyderabad">State Bank of Hyderabad</keyword>, <keyword id="4376212" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Patiala">State Bank of Patiala</keyword>, and Mahila Bank. 
 It was in June that the centre had given the go-ahead to merge <keyword id="13222" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SBI">SBI</keyword> with five of its associate lenders and <keyword id="6560712" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Mahila-Bank">Bharatiya Mahila Bank</keyword>, thus increasing the chances of it breaking into the top 50 list of Bloomberg's largest bank by asset ranking. 
 
Marking the first ever large-scale consolidation in the Indian banking industry, the merger will result in SBI becoming a huge banking entity with an asset book of Rs 37 lakh crore. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/SBI-directs-associate-banks-to-clean-up-books-before-merger/articleshow/53611963.cms">Clean up books before merger, SBI directs associate banks</a> 
 
As per the terms of the merger, SBI will give 28 of its shares for every 10 shares held of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, while for every 10 shares held of State Bank of Mysore as well as State Bank of Travancore, it will give 22 of its shares. 
 
For for every 100 crore equity shares of Bhartiya Mahila Bank, SBI will be giving 4,42,31,510 shares with face value of Re. 1. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/SBI-Chairman-blames-stalled-projects-for-Indian-banking-sector-stress/articleshow/53080413.cms">Stalled projects from 2011 to 13 have put Indian banking sector into stress, says SBI Chairman</a> 
 
Comparing post-merger SBI with India’s second largest bank <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/At-745-million-this-ICICI-Pru-Life-IPO-is-Indias-biggest-in-six-years/articleshow/53265064.cms">ICICI</a>, its asset base will become five times as big as ICICI’s. 
 
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NfBLGD5BAo8/TVOzs86G8WI/AAAAAAAAASE/H6PHjHGPWcY/s1600/IMG_1930.JPG">Image source</a>

Six banks are going to merge into SBI

Government is considering giving a one-year extension to <keyword id="13222" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SBI">SBI</keyword> chief <keyword id="6379603" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arundhati-Bhattacharya">Arundhati Bhattacharya</keyword> amid the lender's consolidation with its associate banks. 
 
"There is a need for continuity at a time when the process of consolidation is going on," sources told an agency. 
 
In this regard, the government is looking at the proposal of granting extension to the current chairperson whose three-year term comes to an end this month, sources added. 
 The government has also received views of the <keyword id="2748088" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bank-Board-Bureau">Bank Board Bureau</keyword> (BBB) on the extension issue and an order in this regard is expected in the next few days, according to the news agency. 
 Earlier this year, the <keyword id="6355513" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cabinet">Cabinet</keyword> gave its nod for the merger of <keyword id="6354731" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-Of-India">State Bank of India</keyword> (SBI) and its associate lenders and <keyword id="6560712" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Mahila-Bank">Bharatiya Mahila Bank</keyword> (<keyword id="423104" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BMB">BMB</keyword>) that would make the state-owned lender a global-sized bank. 
 SBI has five associate lenders -- <keyword id="229649" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Bikaner">State Bank of Bikaner</keyword> and Jaipur, <keyword id="6560713" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Travancore">State Bank of Travancore</keyword>, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and <keyword id="143585" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Hyderabad">State Bank of Hyderabad</keyword>. 
 
Among the associate banks, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Travancore are listed. 
 
The merged entity will become a banking behemoth, which could compete with the largest in the world, with an asset base of Rs 37 trillion (Rs 37 lakh crore) or over USD 555 billion, 22,500 branches and 58,000 ATMs. It will have over 50 crore customers. 
 
SBI had said that all its associate banks and BMB will be merged into it that will add an additional Rs 8 lakh crore to its assets. 
Presently, SBI has close to 16,500 branches, including 191 foreign offices across 36 countries. 
 SBI first merged <keyword id="82725" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-of-Saurashtra">State Bank of Saurashtra</keyword> with itself in 2008. Two years later, State <keyword id="269823" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bank-of-Indore">Bank of Indore</keyword> was merged with it.

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The shocking tale of India's 'Cancer Train'

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In Bikaner, Arjun Ram Meghwal will face off 8 candidates

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Six banks are going to merge into SBI

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