As part of the state government’s relief package for children of unemployed diamond polishers, over 110 schools in Surat have submitted more than 3,200 application forms to the Surat District Industries Centre, benefiting 10,921 students, according to sources on Tuesday.
The forms, submitted on Monday, will now be verified by the Surat Diamond Association before being reviewed by the approval committee led by Surat District Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi.
Government Relief for Diamond Workers’ Families
In May, the Gujarat government announced a special fee assistance package for the children of diamond polishers. Under the scheme, the government will pay up to ₹13,500 per student per year directly to schools. To qualify, the diamond polisher must have been unemployed for the past year and must have worked in the diamond industry for at least three years.
The diamond industry, which has been in a prolonged slump for over two-and-a-half years, employs over 5 lakh workers across 4,000 units in Surat. With international demand for polished diamonds at a low, many workers—mainly from Saurashtra and other parts of Gujarat—have been struggling financially.
Phased Form Submission
The form submission is being conducted in three phases, with the first ending on July 1, and the next two scheduled for July 7 and 23. Most of the 110 schools that participated in the first phase are located in Katargam, Kapodara, Sarthana, and Varachha, all diamond industry hubs within Surat.
Surat District Industries Commissioner Jigar Dave said, “We’ve received 3,200 forms from 110 schools, covering more than 10,921 students. The forms will be sent to the Surat Diamond Association for verification. Once verified, they will be reviewed by the scrutiny and approval committees.”
Concerns Over Staff Shortage
Surat Diamond Association President Jagdish Khunt expressed concerns about the workload: “We are expecting more forms in the coming days, but we’re already short-staffed. Managing 3,200 forms alongside preparations for our upcoming Loose Diamond Auction (July 11–13) is challenging. We’ll raise this issue at the core committee meeting on Thursday.”