Diamond Workers in Surat Protest Delay in Rs.13,500 Education Relief

Surat | Gujarat — The glittering diamond capital of the world is seeing tears instead of sparkle. Thousands of diamond workers in Surat, already reeling under recession, allege harassment and injustice in accessing the much-publicized Gujarat government’s ₹13,500 education relief package per child. The scheme, announced months ago to help children of jobless or wage-cut workers, has left families stranded as bureaucratic hurdles block payments.

The Diamond Workers’ Union Gujarat (DWUG) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Surat District Collector, demanding immediate cancellation of a new circular that asks for additional documentation from beneficiaries.

Union leaders say the move is nothing but harassment. “When families are struggling to buy daily meals, the government is asking for fresh papers and new evidence. Instead of relief, this scheme has become a punishment,” said a DWUG representative outside the collector’s office.

Assembly Questions, Few Answers

The issue also resonated in the monsoon session of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, where MLAs Amit Chavda, Tushar Chaudhary, and Jignesh Mevani grilled the government over the scheme’s implementation. They demanded data on how many applications were received and how many children actually received the promised relief.

In its response, the government provided district-wise numbers of filled forms but sidestepped the core issue of disbursal delays. This has further angered Surat’s diamond community, which feels singled out for discrimination.

Eligibility Roadblocks

Adding to workers’ woes, the scheme’s eligibility rules have left many children excluded. Only those whose parents work in factories registered under the District Industrial Center (DIC) and whose businesses were registered before March 31, 2025 are eligible.

This excludes nearly 20% of diamond factories in Surat, leaving thousands of artisans’ children without relief. “If school fees of jewellers’ children in Ahmedabad were paid, why are Surat’s children left out? Is this not injustice?” asked a local union leader, highlighting the irony that this neglect is happening in the home city of the Education Minister.

Mounting Frustration in Diamond Hub

Surat, which employs over 7 lakh diamond workers, has been hit hard by global slowdown and declining exports. Workers have faced severe job losses, reduced wages, and financial instability. Education was supposed to be a protected right under the relief scheme, but instead, parents are caught between schools demanding fees and a government dragging its feet.

A diamond artisan, whose two children study in private schools, said, “We were promised ₹13,500 per child. Schools are pressuring us daily, and we are being forced to borrow money. Why is the government playing with our children’s future?”