Surat: Suicides among diamond artisans rise due to financial crisis

Surat : Two diamond workers committed suicide in Surat due to financial crisis. Surat is the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing center, and the diamond industry, which will soon witness the operationalisation of Surat Diamod Bourse (SDB) has been facing a slowdown in recent months. This has led to job losses and salary cuts for diamond artisans, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet.

Sandip Kathvadia, 35,  was a diamond cutter who had been working in the industry for over 10 years. He had a wife and two young children. He hanged himself with the ceiling fan at his residence in Mahalaxmi Society in Sarthana.

Another diamond artisan, Madhav Vadodaria, 25, was a diamond polisher who had been working in the industry for over 5 years. He had a wife and a one-year-old child and was residing at Trupti society in Ved Road. He went missing on Wednesday and when the family members searched for his whereabouts, his body was recovered from the Tapi river in Pulpada area.

The world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing center, Surat, India, has seen a worrying increase in the number of suicides among diamond artisans in recent months. This is due to a number of factors, including the ongoing global recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

In the past year, over 35 diamond artisans have committed suicide in Surat, according to the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG).

The financial crisis in the diamond industry has been caused by a number of factors, including the global recession, which has led to a decrease in demand for diamonds. The COVID-19 pandemic also had a major impact on the industry, as lockdowns and travel restrictions disrupted supply chains and demand. The war in Ukraine has further exacerbated the crisis, as Russia is a major importer of diamonds.

The financial crisis has had a devastating impact on diamond artisans, many of whom have lost their jobs or had their wages cut. This has led to widespread financial hardship and poverty.

In addition, many diamond artisans are migrants who have come to Surat from other parts of India in search of work. They often have no family or social support network in the city, which makes them even more vulnerable to financial hardship and mental health problems.

The Diamond Workers Union has called on the government to provide financial assistance to diamond artisans who have lost their jobs or had their wages cut. The union has also called for the government to implement measures to support the diamond industry, such as tax breaks, relief package, Ratnadeep Scheme, and subsidies.

“The increase in suicide cases among diamond artisans is a serious problem that needs to be addressed urgently. The government and the diamond industry need to work together to provide financial assistance and support to diamond artisans who are struggling financially” said Bhavesh Tank, vice-president of DWUG.