45-year-old diamond polisher battling financial crunch ends life in Surat: Police
Over a week after the Gujarat government announced a special package for the diamond industry, a 45-year-old diamond polisher ended his life in Surat's Kamrej area, police said on Thursday.
The victim, who was allegedly battling financial crunch, took the extreme step on Wednesday evening, by consuming poison, said police.
According to the details from Kamrej police officials, the deceased, identified as Kapil Nimavat, was a native of Amreli district and was residing at Derod village in Kamrej.
On Wednesday evening, he consumed poison on the roadside near Bhurkiya farm at Derod village, said police, adding, a passerby spotted him lying unconscious and informed the cops. After identifying him, the victim was rushed to hospital and his family was informed, said police. The victim could not be saved and died during treatment, said police.
The Kamrej police has lodged an accidental death complaint into the matter. During the probe, the victim's younger brother, Mehul, told the police that 'his brother was working at a diamond factory in Varachha and was not earning well'.
'My elder brother had been working as a diamond polisher for the last 10 years. Due to the recession in the industry, he had been getting half salary of Rs 15,000 since January this year, which was not sufficient to meet the monthly expenses,' Mehul told The Indian Express.
'He has two children and his elder daughter goes to school. He was the only earning hand in the family. He had to pay Rs 4,000 monthly house rent among other expenses. He was depressed as he was unable to pay the rent for a couple of months,' he said.
An official from Kamrej police station said: 'According to probe, he was facing financial crises and was not earning well to meet the monthly expenses, following which he committed suicide'.
Diamond Workers' Union Gujarat (DWUG) vice-president Bhavesh Tank told The Indian Express, 'One more diamond polisher has ended his life due to financial crises. In last 18 months, over 75 diamond polishers have committed suicide. He (Kapil) is survived by two children and his wife. Now, who will look after his family?'
'We have made regular representations to the state government to provide financial aid to help the families of diamond polishers who had committed suicide. The government had declared a package for diamond polishers but that does not include semi-unemployed (50 per cent salary earners). The government had declared Rs 13,500 school fees to be paid for the children of the diamond polishers which is insufficient,' he said.
'The government should financially help families of diamond polishers who committed suicide and also help diamond polishers financially,' Tank said.
On May 24, Minister of State for Industries, Harsh Sanghavi, in a media briefing in Surat, announced the special assistance package.
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