Diamond workers union launches suicide helpline for polishers in Surat, sees 400 calls on first day
‘Many in the industry have become jobless or had salary cuts,’ said the union president, who has also appealed to the state government and NGOs
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Diamond Workers Union Gujarat president Ramesh Jileriya told The Indian Express that around 62 diamond polishers have died by suicide in the past 15-16 months. (Representative/ Express archive)As adverse recessions continue to hit the diamond industry, the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat have come up with a helpline number, and slogan: “He ratnakalakaro apghat na karo amne phone karo” (Oh diamond artisans, don’t commit suicide but call us).
On Tuesday, the first day of its existence, 400 calls were received on the helpline, according to the union Surat city president Bhavesh Tank. He said the major issue the callers talked about was unemployment, costs of living and depression due to financial constraints. The number is 9239500009.
“We have started calling back the callers at our Surat office and are noting down their details. We will segregate the problems and other teams will work on it,” Tank said.
Diamond Workers Union Gujarat president Ramesh Jileriya told The Indian Express that around 62 diamond polishers have died by suicide in the past 15-16 months. Meanwhile, according to Tank, 25,000 erstwhile diamond polishers are currently unemployed.
“We have intimated to the state government to pay attention to the diamond polishers who are committing suicide and try to bring out some scheme,” he said. Jileriya has also made appeals to social welfare organisations and NGOs to help the diamond polishers.
The union president added, “Many in the industry have become jobless and forced to take up other work. Due to fewer working hours and more designated holidays in factories, diamond polishers’ salaries have also reduced. The diamond industry has been affected by recession for a long time.”
He said that diamond polishers are becoming prone to suicidal tendencies due to the pressures of inflation: “they have to pay the monthly bank instalments of houses, or pay house rent, and also bear the school fees of their children, while their salaries are going down. They are unable to survive in such a situation.”
Tank said that the helpline number was put up on social media platforms and WhatsApp groups “to reach the majority”. There are around 5,000 diamond factories in Surat city, where 6 lakh people work as diamond polishers.
Last week, the Surat Diamond Association had carried out a three-day exhibition of diamond and jewellery titled Crafts B2B 2024 in Surat. It saw a footfall of around 10,000 from different parts of the country and a few foreign buyers.
SDA President Jagdish Khut said that in the three days, the exhibitors got business of Rs. 125 crores and inquiries for another Rs. 100 crore were generated, which would be finalised in the next one week. The motive behind such an exhibition was to “give movement to” the diamond industry, he said.
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