Congress Seeks Relief for Surat Diamond workers

Surat, Gujarat – As the diamond city of Surat reels under an unrelenting recession in its core industry, the Surat City District Congress Committee has sounded the alarm on the growing crisis faced by Surat diamond workers, including rising incidents of suicide due to financial despair.

In a powerful statement on Monday, senior Congress leader Darshan Naik called the condition of Surat diamond workers  “miserable and heartbreaking” and held the Gujarat government accountable for its “silence and inaction” in the face of a humanitarian crisis.

“The situation in Surat’s diamond sector is dire. Many diamond workers have been driven to suicide, leaving behind families with no financial support. This is no longer just an economic issue — this is a social emergency,” Naik said.

With an estimated 10 lakh families directly or indirectly dependent on the diamond industry, the ongoing recession has had devastating effects on livelihoods. Small and mid-scale units have either cut operations or shut down altogether, leaving thousands unemployed.

Call for Special Package and Welfare Board

To tackle the worsening scenario, the Congress has demanded an immediate special financial package for gemologists and diamond workers. The party also urged the Gujarat government to form a Jewellers Welfare Board, a long-standing demand that remains unfulfilled.

“The government must announce a dedicated welfare board for diamond workers and gemologists. We also demand scholarships for their children and concessional healthcare services for their families,” Naik added.

He emphasized that despite the industry’s substantial contribution to Gujarat’s economy, the workers are being treated as expendable. “This is the industry that put Surat on the global map. But now, when its backbone — the gemologists — are in distress, there is deafening silence from those in power,” he said.

No Visible Progress Despite Committee Formation

Naik pointed out that while a committee had earlier been formed by the local administration to study the diamond industry’s condition, no visible progress or action plan has been seen so far.

“The formation of a committee without outcomes is mere eyewash. The workers don’t need reports; they need relief, support, and policy intervention,” he said.

Congress Hopes for Government Action

As Surat continues to bear the brunt of the global diamond slowdown, the Congress hopes the Gujarat government will take meaningful steps to prevent further tragedies. We hope the government wakes up before more lives are lost. The revival of the diamond industry and welfare of its workers must become a top priority,” Naik concluded.