The workers applied for aid under the government scheme announced in response to the Russia-Ukraine war, which impacted the diamond industry.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
The Gujarat government has received 89,948 applications for educational aid from diamond workers but has provided financial assistance for the school fees of only 170 children so far, according to data provided to the State legislature on Tuesday.
In a written reply to a question by Congress MLA Tushar Amarsinh Chaudhary on the special assistance package announced in May for workers who lost jobs in Surat and Ahmedabad’s distressed diamond hubs, the State government said that by July, it had received 70,254 applications from Surat and another 3,926 from Ahmedabad. While applicants in Ahmedabad have received a total of ₹24.03 lakh, workers in Surat are still awaiting disbursal. The package provides ₹13,500 per child annually to help cover school fees.
In its reply to a separate question raised by another Congress MLA, Jignesh Mevani, the government disclosed that it had received 13,462 applications from diamond workers in Botad district and another 2,306 from Amreli. However, none of these applicants has been compensated so far.
The assistance scheme, introduced in the wake of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, covers diamond workers who lost their jobs after March 31, 2024. Aimed at ensuring that their children’s education is not disrupted, the support is to be transferred directly to schools through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The Gujarat government has also announced separate relief for diamond units.
While the government has maintained that pending applications are being vetted for eligibility, Surat Diamond Workers Union vice-president Bhavesh Tank said several workers have been approaching the union for updates on their applications. “Not a single worker in Surat has received any aid, despite applying months ago,” he told The Hindu.
He added that officers were demanding employment proof and other documents from workers. “In a State where GST is not paid properly, how can poor workers who have already lost their jobs produce employment records, especially when many of the units they worked in have shut down,” Mr. Tank asked.
Mr. Tank said more workers risk losing their jobs following the 50% tariff imposed by the United States.
He urged the government to reopen the application process for fresh claimants.
Published – September 10, 2025 01:25 am IST
