" Job losses, factory closures pushing Surat’s diamond workers to the edge. 71 suicides in 18 months", 04 November 2024

There are about 8-10 lakh diamond workers in Surat, says Diamond Workers Union Gujarat. Most of these workers are neither permanent nor registered employees on the payroll.

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The 10-hour shifts went down to 7-8 hours as work went down following the slump, they said. Salaries of daily wage earners fell as well

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A total of 71 diamond workers have died by suicide in the last 18 months in Surat, according to the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG). As many as 45 of these cases were reported in the last one year of which 31 took place in last six months.

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“In the last two and half years, the economic slowdown hit the market. The salaries have halved and this added to woes,” Tank said. “A worker can withstand (difficulties) for a month or two somehow. But this slowdown has lasted for years now.”

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Dismissed from work three months ago, he said the reason mentioned for his sacking was slowdown.