Editor’s Note
This article outlines a targeted relief package from the Gujarat government aimed at supporting the diamond industry’s workforce and businesses through educational and financial subsidies.
The Gujarat government has announced a special relief package for the diamond industry, under which children of workers employed in this industry will receive one year of school fees, and polishing units will receive a subsidy on interest on capital. Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghvi, made this announcement in the ‘Diamond City’ of Surat, where 90% of the world’s diamonds are cut and polished. Sanghvi described the package as a crucial step to provide financial relief to diamond workers and polishing units in the state and to maintain the stability of the industry.
In fact, due to international factors, the diamond industry is in the grip of a slowdown. In such a situation, the government has announced a special package. Under this, the government will pay one year of school fees for the children of affected diamond workers. Polishing units will receive a one-year exemption from electricity charges, and the government will also provide an interest subsidy on capital of up to five lakh rupees for three years. An industry insider had told PTI-Bhasha last year that approximately 10 lakh people work in about 4,000 polishing and processing units in Surat.
Sanghvi said that the full school fee will be paid, although it will be a maximum of Rs 13,500 per student annually. The minister stated that workers in the diamond industry who lost their jobs after March 31, 2024, will be eligible for this assistance. He said that to be eligible, workers must be over 21 years of age and have at least three years of experience working in a diamond factory.
Surat is called India’s Diamond City because it has thousands of diamond cutting and polishing factories. The city is not only a major diamond trade center in India but also in the world. The diamond industry plays a significant role in Surat’s economy and provides employment to millions of people.
(With inputs from Bhasha)