Gujarat Shocker : Gloomy diamond market in Surat plays host to the suicide yet another artisan
While the city's diamond sector is firmly rooted in a protracted slump, this terrible tragedy adds another name to the increasing list of suicides that are affecting the business.
Surat : There is a gloomy shadow that hangs over the sparkling city of Surat, which was once known as the diamond centre of the world. Sadly, Mehul Babubhai Chauhan, a 41-year-old diamond worker, took his own life on Sunday by hanging himself in his home. He was unable to bear the crushing weight of the financially difficult circumstances he was facing.
While the city’s diamond sector is firmly rooted in a protracted slump, this terrible tragedy adds another name to the increasing list of suicides that are affecting the business.
As a result of his hard work as a diamond artisan at a Pandol diamond factory, Mehul, who lived in Thakordwar community in Adajan, was able to provide for his wife and two children every month with a monthly salary of Rs 30,000. His wages, on the other hand, had been significantly harmed by the economic downturn, and he was left with less than half of what he had earned before the crisis. Mehul, who was unable to deal with the increasing financial strain, allegedly started taking out large loans in order to provide for his family, and he ultimately gave in to hopelessness.
His wife, who stays at home to take care of the children, and his daughter, who is getting ready for her important final examinations for Class X in March, are left behind to deal with the heartbreaking loss and the uncertain future that may be expected. This event serves as a jarring reminder of the human cost that are associated with the problems that the diamond industry is experiencing. A worrying trend of diamond workers turning to extreme means owing to financial difficulty is now being seen in the city, which was once throbbing with the liveliness of the diamond trade.
In response to the state government’s apparent failure to provide enough funding for diamond craftsmen in the most recent budget, the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG) has issued a sharp denunciation.
“The diamond artisans, who polish diamonds, are not polishing their lives,” Bhavesh Tank, vice president of DWUG, voiced his dissatisfaction over the situation. Given that the State Government continues to show a lack of concern for their predicament, there is no longer any chance of success for them. The requests that we have made for financial aid to be provided to the families of those who have committed suicide and to the craftsmen who are now without jobs have not been heeded.
“The catastrophe that befell Mehul serves as a stern call to action. It is imperative that immediate action be taken in order to solve the crisis that has been plaguing the diamond sector and to relieve the suffering of its employees. The provision of financial aid, the investigation of alternative career alternatives, and the provision of mental health services should be the government’s top priority in helping diamond craftsmen. I have added Tank.