Rs.16.50 Per Stone: Surat Diamond Artisans Demand Fair Pay

Surat, Gujarat : Surat, the glittering diamond capital of the world, hides a dark truth beneath its polished gems — the very hands that cut and shape these sparkling stones are struggling to survive on a meagre ₹16.50 per diamond.

This is the grim reality faced by diamond artisans working at HVK International Private Limited, a prominent diamond company located in the Gotalawadi area of Katargam, Surat. Around 100 artisans have gone on strike since Wednesday, demanding a long-overdue wage hike that was promised but never delivered.

“If I process 10 diamonds a day, I barely earn ₹165. How am I supposed to feed my family and send my children to school on ₹4,950 a month?” questioned Bhavesh Patel, one of the striking artisans. “They sell these diamonds for lakhs of rupees, and we are paid less than what a tea vendor earns in a day.”

The artisans claim they were assured a wage revision by April 1, but even after April 10, the promise remains unfulfilled. Frustrated by the management’s silence, they have chosen to down their tools in protest.

“We were told the price revision would be announced by April 10,” said another artisan, Raju Rathod, who has been with the company for over a decade. “But till now, there’s been no communication. It’s like we are invisible to them.”

Diamond processing in HVK International runs on a massive scale daily. The company’s failure to act could bring its operations to a grinding halt, with significant consequences for production and exports. The workers have warned that if the issue isn’t resolved soon, the strike could expand across Surat’s diamond units.

“Our patience has limits,” said a representative of the striking workers. “If the management doesn’t respond, we will call for a city-wide protest. Thousands of artisans are facing similar exploitation, and this is not just about one company anymore.”

Despite repeated efforts, HVK International has not released any official statement. The silence from the company has only added fuel to the workers’ anger.

Surat is the world’s largest centre for cutting and polishing diamonds, yet the workers remain some of the most underpaid in the industry. The glaring gap between the value of diamonds sold and the artisans’ wages paints a troubling picture of inequality and exploitation.

As global markets admire the shine of Indian-cut diamonds, the people behind the sparkle are demanding justice — not just in promises, but in action. The coming days will decide whether Surat’s diamond industry can balance its glittering success with basic human dignity.