Tue Sep 09 19:55:30 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Gujarat government’s aid program for diamond workers, established due to the Russia-Ukraine war’s impact on the industry, is facing significant delays. While nearly 90,000 applications for educational assistance have been received, only 170 children have received financial aid. Workers in Surat, a major diamond hub, are still awaiting disbursal, and applicants in Botad and Amreli districts have received no compensation. The Surat Diamond Workers Union reports that workers are struggling to provide required documentation, such as employment proof, and fear further job losses due to tariffs. The union is urging the government to reopen the application process to assist more affected workers.
**News Article:**
**Gujarat Diamond Workers Await Promised Aid as Applications Languish**
**Ahmedabad, India – September 10, 2025** – Thousands of diamond workers in Gujarat are still waiting for promised educational aid from a government scheme designed to alleviate financial hardship caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. The program, announced in May, aimed to support workers who lost their jobs due to the war’s impact on the diamond industry.
According to data presented to the State legislature on Tuesday, the government has received 89,948 applications for educational aid to help cover school fees for children. However, a meager 170 children have actually received the promised financial assistance, which is ₹13,500 per child annually.
The state government reported that they received 70,254 applications from Surat and another 3,926 from Ahmedabad. While applicants in Ahmedabad have received a total of ₹24.03 lakh, workers in Surat are still awaiting disbursal. From Botad district, the government received 13,462 applications and another 2,306 from Amreli, but none of the applicants have been compensated so far.
The scheme, intended to ensure children’s education is not disrupted, targets workers who lost their jobs after March 31, 2024, with funds directly transferred to schools. The Gujarat government has also announced separate relief for diamond units.
Bhavesh Tank, vice-president of the Surat Diamond Workers Union, expressed concern over the delays. He stated that workers are struggling to provide the required employment proof and other documents, particularly as many units have shut down. He also warned of further job losses due to the 50% tariff imposed by the United States, which could exacerbate the crisis.
Tank urged the government to reopen the application process to accommodate new applicants as the situation continues to worsen for diamond workers in the state.
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