At least 110 schools in Surat submitted over 3,200 application forms for fee assistance — as a part of the state government relief package for diamond polishers’ children — benefiting 10,921 students to the Surat District Industries Centre on Monday, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The forms will be verified by the Surat Diamond Association before being forwarded to the approval committee headed by District Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi.
Earlier in May, the state government announced a special assistance package for the diamond industry. Under the relief package, the state government will cover the school fees of children of diamond polishers, providing an annual sum of Rs 13,500 for one year. The criteria to avail the scheme benefits include the diamond polisher being unemployed for the last year and having worked in the industry for at least three years. The government will directly pay the fees to the schools.
The diamond industry has been experiencing a prolonged period of recession for over two-and-a-half years now. The diamond polishers, along with middle and small diamond unit owners, have been facing great financial difficulty due to the reduced demand for polished diamonds in the international market. There are over 4,000 small, medium, and large diamond factories in Surat city, employing a workforce of over 5 lakh diamond workers. Out of the 10 polished diamonds found in the world, eight are cut and polished in Surat city. The majority of the workforce in the diamond industry hails from Saurashtra and other parts of Gujarat and are settled in Surat city.
Following the announcement of a special relief package by the state government, schools were instructed to make students and their parents aware of the scheme.
The school authorities had also distributed forms among the students, seeking all necessary details.
The form submission is being done in three phases, with the first phase ending on Monday, while the second and third phases are scheduled for July 7 and 23, according to sources in the Surat district administration.
On Monday, 110 schools submitted 3,200 forms to the district industries commissioner. Majority of such schools are located in Katargam, Kapodara, Sarthana, and Varachha areas in Surat city.
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Surat District Industries Commissioner Jigar Dave told The Indian Express, “We have received 3,200 application forms from 110 schools, and the number of beneficiaries is over 10,921 students”.
“We will be sending these forms to the Surat Diamond Association for verification, including confirmation of whether the applicant is actually a diamond polisher and if they have been jobless for the last year. There are two more phases left for accepting such forms. Once these forms are verified, it will be sent to the scrutiny committee, and later it will reach the approval committee headed by Surat District Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi”.
Surat Diamond Association President Jagdish Khunt told The Indian Express, “We are expecting more such forms in the coming days. A core committee meeting regarding the disbursement of the special assistance package will be held on Thursday”.
“We already have a staff crunch. How are we supposed to handle 3,200 forms? We will share our concerns with the committee head, the Surat District Collector. We are also preparing for our upcoming loose diamond auction event which will be held in Surat city from July 11 to 13. How will we take care of so much work?” Khunt asked.
