Soon, free railway tickets for cancer patients

Despite the bulging economy, cancer patients and their families can soon stop worrying about train fares. Indian Railways will issue free passes to all the cancer patients and their family members in the near future.

"Responding to our plea, Indian Railways has agreed to give such concessions in near future. It will be a big boon for the family members of the cancer patients who travel from smaller towns to cities for the treatment of their loved ones," said Dr Vijayabharati Rangrajan, national president of Cancer Care India.

The doctor spoke at a seminar, which was organised to celebrate 10 years of the city's cancer care centre.

She runs several initiatives to promote the preventive measures for cancer in rural areas and has been in talks with railway officials about this issue since long. Rangrajan is also hopeful that railways will start a separate train for cancer patients, particularly in the north east region.

Along with many leading doctors from all over the country, city's mayor Asit Vora was also present on the occasion. The event also awarded social workers and doctors. Many unsung heroes were selected for the awards for their contribution towards cancer awareness and prevention.

Ramesh Dalal, once a cancer patient, was among the receivers of the 'excellence in social service' award, for providing guidance and counselling to cancer patients at Civil Hospital. Due to the radio therapy, Dalal, who is in his 70s cannot eat or drink through his mouth since the last seven years. He is fed through a pipe. To help others overcome this situation, he has volunteered to give his time to cancer patients at the radio therapy centre.

Another such unsung hero was PK Ghosh, who has
survived the last stage of cancer. He was cured after a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy operations, 14 years ago.

Ever since, he has dedicated his life to creating awareness about the disease, for which, he travels all over India.