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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
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.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Govt officials meet to discuss package for diamond industry, DWUG members not invited
Surat District collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi Wednesday evening held a meeting with different stakeholders of the diamond industry to discuss implementation of the state government's financial assistance package for the industry. Members of the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG), who have been raising the issue of unemployment faced by diamond polishers, were not invited to the meeting. Minister of State for Industries, Harsh Sanghavi, in a media briefing on May 24 in Surat, had announced the special assistance package. Those present at Wednesday's meeting were representatives of Surat Diamond Association, District Employment Office, District industry officers, Labour department officials, and officials of leading banks. A decision regarding the formation of a 'scrutiny committee', which will accept applications from the diamond polishers and diamond unit owners and verify them, was taken to help people avail the benefit of the government scheme. As per the package, the state government will bear the school fees of up to Rs 13,500 for a year of children of diamond polishers, aged 21 and above, who have been jobless for the last one year but have worked for at least three years before that. Apart from this, the 9 per cent interest rate on term loan of maximum up to Rs 5 lakh availed by diamond unit owners will be waived for three years starting July. Diamond units with machinery investments worth Rs 2.5 crore that has witnessed power consumption going down in the last one year will get subsidy on electricity duty on power bills. Talking to The Indian Express, Surat Diamond Association President Jagdish Khunt said: 'The diamond industry is widely established in Surat. There are around 3,500 diamond factories here and around 7 lakh artisans work in these factories. The figures are not accurate though, as no survey has been conducted till date. It would be difficult to identify polishers who have been unemployed since last year. The implementation of the state government's scheme in the diamond industry is quite difficult,' he said. He further said, 'Of 3,500 diamond factories, over 80 per cent run with staff strength of 10 to 40 (2 emery wheels-10 emery wheels). These factories do not have any official company name and are not registered. Similarly, there are diamond polishers who switch jobs and move to different factories every quarter or so , keeping in mind higher wages. The firm owners also do not have details of polishers.' 'At the meeting, it was decided that application forms will contain all necessary details of diamond polishers and diamond unit owners. The work on preparing these forms has been started. Another meeting will be held next week to discuss further actions,' he said. The Indian Express also spoke to DWUG Vice-President Bhavesh Tank. 'We have been protesting over the issue of joblessness since the last three years. We have submitted memorandums multiple times to the Surat District Collector and written to the Chief Minister. The state government has now come up with a financial package for the diamond industry. We were not invited to the meeting,' he said . He also said: 'A couple of days ago, we wrote to the Chief Minister, requesting him to waive off school fees of children of diamond polishers who are unemployed or semi-unemployed (whose salary has gone down by 50 per cent). We have been fighting for the rights of diamond polishers since long. We have all the details of polishers. If we are invited to such meetings, we can provide these details to the committee.' District Collector Pardhi did not respond to calls till press time.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gujarat govt announces relief package for recession-hit diamond industry
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government led by chief minister Bhupendra Patel has introduced a relief package to support diamond artisans and micro-units facing global market challenges and reeling under recession. Minister of state for industries, Harsh Sanghvi, announced the initiative to ease financial strain and stabilise the state's diamond section, especially Surat's diamond trade hub. The decision comes after the government formed a high-level committee in March to look into the industry's issues and there was a strike in late March, led by the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG), that prompted further discussions between government and industry representatives. The package will largely benefit the Surat industry where 85% of the world's roughs are processed and employs over 8 lakh diamond artisans. In addition to Surat, diamond manufacturing units are also located in parts of Saurashtra, including cities like Rajkot and Bhavnagar. Global disruptions, including supply chain issues, declining demand, and U.S. sanctions on polished diamonds made from Russian rough stones (33% of Surat's supply), have battered the industry, causing factory slowdowns and job losses. The Russia-Ukraine war deepened the crisis, driving a steep decline in India's diamond exports. DWUG, citing over 60 artisan suicides in the past year and over 50,000 job losses in the last three years due to financial distress, demanded higher wages, industry price support, a welfare board, and aid for education, and unemployed workers from the ruling BJP government. In a December video message, Govindbhai Dholakia, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of Shree Ram Krishna Exports with six decades in the diamond industry, called this the longest recession he has seen. He urged patience and expressed hope for a soon recovery. Surat MLA Mukesh Dalal, from the ruling BJP, raised the diamond industry's crisis in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour in March, urging government's intervention to support struggling workers and industries. The Gujarat government's package announced on May 24 offers targeted measures. Artisans unemployed from March 31, 2024, can have their children's school fees covered for one year, up to Rs. 13,500 per child, paid directly to schools via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) as per Education Department protocols. Eligible artisans must be over 21, have three years of diamond industry experience, and be currently unemployed. They must apply within two months of the announcement at District Industries Centres with a certificate from the District Labour or Employment Officer, a Diamond Association recommendation, or a school fee certificate. For micro-units, the package provides financial support to sustain operations. Units can access interest subsidies on term loans up to Rs. 5 lakh at 9% for three years, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, and a one-year electricity duty exemption starting July 1, 2025. Eligible units must have a capital investment in plant and machinery up to Rs. 2.5 crore, three years of diamond industry involvement (2022-25), a 25% or greater reduction in electricity use compared to 2023-24, and Udyam registration before March 31, 2025. District-level committees, led by the District Collector and including officials from labour, employment, education, banking, and diamond associations, will review applications, meeting at least twice monthly. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) data shows that India's cut and polished diamond exports have recorded a continuous decline over the past three financial years. In 2022–23, exports were valued at USD 22.05 billion, down by 9.78% as compared to the previous year. The fall worsened to 27.58% in FY 2023–24, with exports dropping to USD 15.97 billion, and further dropped by 16.75% in 2024–25, reaching USD 13.29 billion, amid weakening global demand and inventory pile-up in key markets, as per GJEPC data. Meanwhile, the country's total gems and jewellery exports stood at USD 37.65 billion in 2022–23, which declined by 14.95% to USD 32.02 billion in 2023–24. In 2024–25, exports decreased once again, falling by 11.19% to USD 28.67 billion (USD 28,671.06 million), according to GJEPC's latest figures.
