Congress Legislative Party leader Amit Chavda Thursday demanded a relief package and a board, from the BJP-led state government, to help the diamond industry “come out of the recession”. Chavda made the demand while participating in a general discussion on state Budget. “The diamond industry which has given us fame across the world is facing recession. A situation has arisen where 10 lakh diamond workers can become jobless.If we talk about last year, over 50 diamond workers have committed suicide,” Chavda said. “I request the finance minister and the government to declare a financial package to bring the diamond industry out of the recession and for the welfare of the diamond workers. At the same time, establish a board for their welfare,” he added. Criticising the state Budget, Chavda stated that it is a Budget which has “eclipsed” farmers, farming and villages. Chavda said that the past governments of Congress had followed the dream of (Mahatma) Gandhiji to strengthen villages through its policies. However, he alleged, due to the policies of BJP, the “condition of farmers is deteriorating”. Chavda also alleged that the state government is spending less on the social sector. A government statement quoting Gujarat Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya said that the “Budget is devoted to five pillars of development namely social security, human resources development, infrastructure development, development of economic activities and green growth”. He said that the Budget has allocated a sizable amount for various welfare schemes for farmers and the agriculture department. He said that allocation of Rs 6,807 crore has been done for the Social Justice and Empowerment Department in the Budget. In a related development, the state while replying to a starred question by Chavda seeking information about the deaths of sanitation workers said that in the last two years, 12 sanitation workers have died and the state government has paid a total of Rs 180 lakh to their families as compensation.
