Relief Package Reaches Over 47,000 Diamond Workers Hit by Global Crisis in Surat

Gujarat receives 77,253 aid applications from diamond workers in Surat and Junagadh; more than 48,000 workers receive financial assistance

Gujarat has rolled out a relief package for diamond workers affected by adverse conditions in the global diamond market, with 48,165 workers in Surat and Junagadh receiving financial assistance, according to figures presented in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

The state received 77,253 applications from individual diamond workers across the two districts, while no applications were submitted by industrial units.

Surat accounts for majority of applications

Of the total applications, 74,271 were submitted from Surat, the state's major diamond-processing hub, while 2,982 applications came from Junagadh.

Authorities rejected 28,115 applications across the two districts. This included 26,746 applications from Surat and 1,369 from Junagadh.

Financial assistance was subsequently disbursed to 47,525 workers in Surat and 640 workers in Junagadh.

Bhesan, Visavadar data

Local-level figures from Junagadh district also show the implementation of the relief measures in Bhesan and Visavadar talukas.

In Bhesan, 893 applications were received, with financial assistance disbursed to 256 approved applicants.

In Visavadar, 742 applications were submitted. Of these, 173 were approved and 39 applicants received payments, while no applications remained pending.

Together, the two talukas recorded 1,635 applications, 712 approvals and 292 payouts, according to the data provided.

Relief aimed at cushioning diamond workers

The relief package is intended to support workers facing employment and income pressures amid prolonged volatility in international diamond markets, particularly in Gujarat's key diamond-processing centres.