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The meltdown-hit diamond industry has rendered lakhs of diamond polishers in a pitiable state. With no source of income, many have committed suicide and several others have taken to crime.
The deputy mayor of Surat city, Kishor Kanani, who is also a BJP municipal councillor from Ward No 4 at Varachha, requested in his e-mail that the government should relax power tariff to 50 per cent for house usage in the diamond polisher-dominated areas.
The government should make special arrangements at the fair price shops in Varachha and Kapodara, and the APL card owners (diamond polishers) should be given kerosene and grains at prices given to those holding BPL cards.
The government should also make arrangements in such a way that the family members of diamond polishers get identity cards on which they are allowed concessions on treatment and medicines.
“The diamond polishers and their family members had voted for the BJP in the elections and have supported the party when required. Now, the time has come when the government should think of them. I have seen many NGOs come forward in their aid. So, I thought that the state government should take some initiative in this regard,” said Kanani.
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