**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2242 in the Lok Sabha, scheduled for December 12, 2025, regarding the health impact of pollution in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. The response provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses concerns about the rising cases of cancer, kidney, and liver diseases, and outlines government initiatives to prevent and treat such diseases. Key actions involve ongoing national programs and financial assistance schemes for affected individuals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Rajasthan Health Issues:**
* A report from the Government of Rajasthan indicates no certified study under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) directly links excessive chemical fertilizer use and polluted drinking water to increased cancer, kidney, and liver diseases.
* Significant increases in classical risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including cancer (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, poor diet, inactivity), have been observed.
* **Drinking Water:**
* Drinking water is a state subject, and the responsibility for planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water schemes lies with State/UT Governments, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
* **National Health Programs and Support:**
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support under NP-NCD as part of the National Health Mission (NHM), focusing on infrastructure, human resources, screening, diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion.
* 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units, and 6410 NCD clinics have been set up at Community Health Centres.
* 297 Day Care Cancer Centres have been approved for establishment across the country during FY 2025-26.
* A population-based initiative for NCD prevention, control, and screening is implemented under NHM, along with healthy eating promotions and lifestyle activities.
* **Financial Assistance and Treatment:**
* The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) under Ayushman Bharat provides a health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It is extended to senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
* The Ministry provides one-time financial assistance of up to Rs. 15 lakh under the Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) for the treatment of poor cancer patients.
* Free essential medicines for diabetes and hypertension are provided, and affordable generic medicines are available under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
* Affordable medicines for treatment of various diseases are provided under Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT).
* **Rajasthan Specific Initiatives:**
* The Government of Rajasthan provides free treatment for serious diseases under the Universal Health Coverage programs (Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana and Mukhyamantri Nishulk Nirogi Rajasthan Yojana).
* Liver Smile Clinics have been established in all 61 district hospitals in Rajasthan for screening of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of Rajasthan**
* **Impact:** The State Government is responsible for addressing the drinking water issues and providing data on the correlation between pollutants and diseases. The State also implements its own health initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and monitor drinking water supply schemes, monitor and provide reports on diseases, and maintain the Universal Health Coverage programs.
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for providing financial and technical support to States/UTs and implementing various national health programs.
* **Action Required:** Maintain support for the National Health Mission (NHM) and related programs, including financial aid and infrastructure support to States/UTs.
**Citizens of Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, Rajasthan**
* **Impact:** Citizens are potentially impacted by pollution-related diseases and are the beneficiaries of government health programs.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available screening programs, treatment options, and healthcare services to address health concerns.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for addressing the health concerns raised in the question.
Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh (Rajasthan): Districts in Rajasthan where increased cases of cancer, kidney, and liver diseases are reported.
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD): A program under which studies are conducted regarding the increase in cancer, kidney, and liver diseases in the concerned districts.
Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM): Scheme related to drinking water supply.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): A health insurance scheme providing health cover.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2242
TOBE ANSWERED ON12TH DECEMBER, 2025
HEALTH IMPACTOFPOLLUTION INSRIGANGANAGAR AND
HANUMANGARH
2242 SHRIKULDEEPINDORA:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the cases of cancer, kidney and liver diseases are
increasing manifold in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of Rajasthan due to excessive
use of chemicalfertilizers andpolluteddrinkingwater andif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether anyspecial study hasbeenconducted tofind out the root causes of the rising cases of
these fataldiseases inthese districts andif so, the detailsthereof;
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government so far for prevention of these
diseases, providing safe drinking water, controlling chemical use and ensuring timely and
affordable treatment;and
(d) whether the Government is considering implementing any special scheme for providing free
or subsidized treatment as well as financial assistance to the poor and rural families suffering
from such fataldiseases andif so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) and (b): Public Health and Hospital is a state subject. As per report from Government of
Rajasthan, there is no certified survey or study available under the National Programme for
Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) Programme to prove that
excessive use of chemicalfertilizers andpolluteddrinkingwater isleading tosignificant increase
in cancer, kidney and liver diseases. There has been significant increase in the classical risk
factors associated with Non - Communicable Disease(NCDs) including cancer such as tobacco
and alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activities, unhealthy diets, consumption of high
salt, sugar andsaturated fats, etc.
(c) Drinking Water being a State subject, the responsibility of Planning, Approval,
Implementation, Operation & Maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those
underthe Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM), isvested with State/UTGovernments.Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to States and
Union Territories across the country under NP-NCD as part of the National Health Mission
(NHM). The Programme focuses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development,
screening, early diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion for Non-Communicable
Diseases (NCDs) as per need and proposal from the State and Union Territories. Under the
programme, 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units and 6410 NCD clinics at
Community Health Centres have been set up. Further, 297 Day Care Cancer Centres have been
approvedfor establishment across the countryduring the FY2025-26.
A population-based initiative under NHM for prevention, control and screening of common
NCDs among persons above 30 years is implemented as part of Comprehensive Primary Health
Care. Healthy-eating promotion through FSSAI’s Eat Right initiatives and lifestyle activities
such as Fit India, Khelo India and Yoga programmes of the Ministries of AYUSH and Youth
Affairs& Sports are also carriedout.
(d) Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) under Ayushman Bharat: AB-PMJAY
provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care
hospitalization to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries. The scheme, through Ayushman Vay
Vandana, has been expended to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their
socio-economic status. Packages for NCDs are also part of PM-JAY scheme. The Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare provides one-time financial assistance of up to Rs. 15 lakh under the
Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF), a component of the Umbrella Scheme of
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), for the treatment of poor patients suffering from cancer at
Regional CancerCentres(RCCs), Tertiary Care Cancer Centres(TCCCs), State CancerInstitutes
(SCIs), andotherGovernment hospitals/institutes with cancertreatmentfacilities
Under Free Drugs Service Initiative of NHM, free essential medicines for diabetes and
hypertension patients are provided to for poor and needy people as per the proposals received
from the StatesandUnion Territories. Quality generic medicinesare made availableat affordable
prices to all, under ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), in collaboration
withtheStateGovernments.AffordableMedicinesandReliableImplantsforTreatment(AMRIT)
provides affordable medicines for treatment of various diseases including diabetes and
hypertension.
Government of Rajasthan has informed that treatment of serious diseases is done free of cost
under the Universal Health Coverage under the Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana and
Mukhyamantri Nishulk Nirogi Rajasthan Yojana. Liver Smile Clinics have been established in
all 61 district hospitals of the state for screening of patients suffering from non-alcoholic fatty
liverdisease.
******