The diamond industry has employed nearly four lakh people and recorded a turnover of Rs 70 crore in the past. Today, the industry is morose with many losing their jobs and several others ending their lives out of depression: a fact that has made the Union Labour Secretary Sudha Pillai to come calling to the state.

In a meeting at the Surat District Collectorate, Pillai directed the Labour Department officials to collect the precise data of the diamond factories in the city and the number of the people employed by it. She also asked for the registration of all factories having over 10 workers under the Factory Act. It may be mentioned that the state government is yet to make an official statement on the issue. It had asked the Centre for a relief package for the industry, which made New Delhi send the Union Labour Secretary.

Sudha Pillai was shocked to know that the diamond workers are not getting facilities of PF (provident fund) and the like despite working with the same factory for long. Later, she discussed with the district administration about the reasons behind the diamond workers committing suicides. The district administration was also told to invite NGOs to come forward and help the diamond polishers.

Pillai also collected details of the children of diamond polishers studying in schools and instructed the District Education Officer to ensure that the school authorities do not force already hassled parents to pay fees. She also told the district Industries Department officials to impart training to the jobless diamond polishers so that they might find a job in other sectors.

The Surat District Congress Diamond Workers Cell president, Devsinh Singhada, made a representation to Pillai and demanded the implementation of labour laws in the diamond industry. Singhada made a few other proposals that the Central and state governments should give some relief package to the workers and grant loans at zero interest to diamond factory owners so that they can reopen their factories. At present, only 20 per cent of the factories in the city have reopened.

District Collector Dilip Rawal said: “Sudha Pillai took inputs from various representatives of the industry and the Labour Department; and after analysing them, she suggested some short, medium and long-term measures for the industry and the people associated with it. She will put forward the issue before the Ministry of Labour and Employment and other concerned ministries for some policy decision.