Surat, May 13 — In a significant move aimed at providing relief to diamond artisans grappling with a prolonged industry slowdown, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has launched a welfare scheme that includes annual health insurance of up to Rs 35,000 and distribution of educational notebooks for workers' children. As per agency report, the scheme will be available only to registered workers who possess an official identity card issued by GJEPC.
For the past two years, India’s diamond hub in Surat has been severely affected by an economic downturn. In the last six months, a sharp decline in the lab-grown and natural diamond sectors has worsened conditions for workers. The situation has become so dire that several artisans reportedly took their own lives, prompting diamond workers' unions to organize protest rallies demanding government intervention.
With lakhs of people directly and indirectly dependent on the diamond industry, reduced working hours and up to 50 percent wage cuts have made it difficult for many families to afford daily necessities and education for their children. In response, the Gujarat state government has acknowledged the severity of the crisis and announced the formation of a special committee to explore economic assistance for the affected workforce.
Under the first phase of its support initiative, GJEPC will extend insurance benefits to registered artisans. Council President Jayanti Savaliya stated that the process of issuing official identity cards is underway and will involve coordination with various industry bodies, including the Diamond Association, Jewellery Association, and the Diamond Workers Union.
The registration process will include collection of Aadhaar numbers and bank account details to ensure seamless delivery of benefits. Only verified and registered artisans will be eligible for the scheme to maintain transparency.
Given the current challenges facing the diamond sector, this initiative could provide much-needed support to the struggling artisan community. However, the success of the program will depend on effective registration and identity verification of beneficiaries.
