Diamond industry
The Gujarat government on Saturday announced a special relief package for the diamond industry, under which the children of the workers will be given one year school fees and interest subsidy on capital to polish units. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi announced this in ‘Hira Nagari’ Surat, where 90 percent of the world’s diamonds are carved and polished. The diamond industry is in the grip of recession due to international factors. Under the special package, the government will pay one year school fees of children of affected diamond workers. Polishing units will get exemption from electricity fee for one year.
Main things of the package:
The government will pay school fees of children’s children, a maximum of ₹ 13,500 per student. Polishing units will be exempted from electricity fee for one year. Interest subsidies will be available for three years on capital up to ₹ 5 lakh.
Interest subsidy will be available for three years
Also, the government will give interest subsidy for three years on capital of five lakh rupees. The Sanghvi described the package as an important step to provide financial relief to diamond workers and polishing units in the state and maintain the stability of the industry. An internal source of the industry told PTI-language last year that about 4,000 people work in about 4,000 polish and processing units in Surat.
School fees will be paid
Sanghvi said that the school fees will be paid, although this will be a maximum of Rs 13,500 per student annually. The minister said that after 31 March 2024, the workers of the diamond industry who lost their jobs will be eligible for this assistance. He said that to be eligible, workers must be over 21 years of age and should have at least three years of experience working in a diamond factory.
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