Rehabilitation of Rural Cancer Patients

A vast majority of cancer patients in India are from the rural areas. Most of them are unable to continue working in heavy farming jobs on returning home. In order to help such needy rural cancer patients in 1990-91, a pilot demonstration project was undertaken by the Indian Cancer Society in collaboration with the National Institute of Handicapped Research in Washington. Training sections in several rural and cottage based industries such as grocery, poultry-farming, leather work, horticulture, dairy farming etc. were set up under this project. On completion of training, patients were suitably placed or self-employed in their own rural areas, after obtaining the necessary financial assistance for them from the nationalised banks. Every year 200 rural patients are given such employment assistance at the Rehabilitation centre.