8230;Oppn rallies behind them

The diamond workers unit of the Congress, the Ratna Kalakar Cell, handed over a memorandum to the district collector and demanded that the state government declare a relief package for the diamond polishers.

Congress cell8217;s memorandum seeks rescue package

The diamond workers unit of the Congress, the Ratna Kalakar Cell, handed over a memorandum to the district collector and demanded that the state government declare a relief package for the diamond polishers. They also demanded that the state government play a role in making the units restart their operations.

The Gordhan Zadafia-led MGJP had taken out a rally and handed over a memorandum to the Surat district collector and demanded the reopening of the closed diamond units, a couple of days ago. Now, the Congress too has plunged into the ongoing agitation by the diamond workers.

The Congress Ratna Kalakar Cell leaders and diamond workers gathered outside the District Collectorate at Nanpura and handed over a memorandum to Surat District Collector Dilip Rawal.

They said the government officials should hold talks with the diamond unit owners and convince them to start their units at the earliest.

Congress Ratna Kalakar Cell president Devsinh Singada said: 8220;Day by day, the condition of the diamond polishers is getting worse and many don8217;t even have the money to eat. If nothing is done immediately, the workers will have no recourse but to commit suicide en-masse. We have demanded a relief package from the state government and have asked the government to ensure that the money reaches the workers.8221;

The demands also include that the families of diamond workers receive cooking oil, kerosene, grain and other items at concessional rates from fair price shops.

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8220;Many of the diamond polishers have taken their children off the school rolls and several others are now trying to eke out a living as street vendors,8221; Singada said.

Surat city Women8217;s Congress president and Indian National Trade Union Congress INTUC Surat city president Urmilla Rana said: 8220;Earlier, the unit owners reaped profit from these workers, but now they are not paying any attention to them. The unit owners should give some money to the diamond workers when the units are closed, in accordance with what is mentioned in the labour laws. If nothing is done over this issue, the Congress party will actively work for the benefit of diamond workers.8221;