Malda: Bidis bind villagers of Malda’s Uttar Dariyapur together, and so does cancer. Tucked away in a corner of Naoda Jadupur gram panchayat, about 20km south of Malda, nearly every household in the village has amember with cancer. In the last one year, more than 100 people have died of the disease and around 100 more are counting their days. It’s lung cancer that most villagers are suffering from. If Sadiqul Islam’s lung cancer can be attributed to smoking, for Jasmine Biwi, as in the case of hundreds of other women in the village, it is because of binding bidis. “Two years ago, I was diagnosed with TB,” says Jasmine. But with constant exposure to tobacco during work, her condition worsened. Six months ago she was detected with lung cancer. The chief medical officer of health, Dr Bidhan Mishra, said the situation was alarming. The large number of cancer were tobacco-related or due to arsenic poisoning, he said. “A district health action plan is being prepared and four cancer screening centres will be set up in Malda’s Bamangola, Gazole, Chanchal and Kaliachak,” he said. The cancer-affected, mostly bidi binders or daily wage earners, are finding it difficult to make both ends meet. Rabbul Sk of Mahjan Tola, who suffers from throat cancer, has eight children. “We can hardly afford such an expensive treatment. We took him to Kolkata once. Now the homeopath in the village is our only hope,” said Rabbul’s wife Momina Biwi. Some even turn to the village quacks. Jadupur gram panchayat pradhan Asaur Rahman says, “We have informed this to the district health department and the district magistrate. But have received no help so far.” Rabbul Sk of Mahajan Tola suffers from throat cancer, but his wife Momina (above) said they do not have the means to fund his treatment