Having few options, the labourers, who once worked in Surat’s diamond units, now work on widening of roads, tree plantation and check dams.

The State Commission has already issued job cards to 2,879 families of the diamond workers. The scheme promises at least 100 days of work to the person who applies for a job.

According to figures provided by B K Joshi, Assistant Commissioner, NREGS Gujarat State Commission, “Bhavnagar has got the maximum number of families of diamond workers registered for work under NREGS (1,240), followed by Amreli (644), Junagadh (500), Ahmedabad (400), Mehsana (60), Banaskantha (25) and Patan (10).

“The maximum job cards have been issued in Savarkundla and Rajula. We have made special arrangements for the unemployed diamond labourers, so that they don’t face any hurdle in starting work,” said Amreli District Development Officer (DDO) Shekhar Vidyarthi.