Diamond workers to come under NREGA

The Gujarat Government which till now has been unwilling to come up with any sort of bailout package for the diamond industry...

The Gujarat Government which till now has been unwilling to come up with any sort of bailout package for the diamond industry has,in an attempt to rehabilitate affected workers,instructed all district development officers (DDOs) to give them work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). However,the Diamond Workers Association is unimpressed and has clarified that they were skilled workers and not ready to toil as casual labourers.

This is the initiative of the Gujarat Government. The idea is to provide employment for those who are willing to work under the scheme. We have already given instructions to all the DDOs to encourage diamond workers to join the scheme, said NREGA Assistant Commissioner B K Joshi.

The diamond workers,most of them from Saurashtra,have been looking for alternative employment opportunities after the diamond polishing units in Surat shut down following the slowdown in the global markets.

Story continues below this ad

While the State Commission for NREGA is going ahead with the move to provide at least 100 days of work,the diamond workers dont appear keen to take up casual jobs.

Diamond Workers Association president Babubhai Jirawala said,How can the Government expect the diamond workers to work under NREGA. They are skilled labourers,provided with all facilities like ACs and fans in their offices. How are they going to work as labourers under the sun on projects such as road widening? The Government should come up with some sort of package for their rehabilitation. However,the Government is pressing ahead. One of the DDOs,on the condition of anonymity,said the process of coming up with a package under the NREGA is underway. We are working on some concrete plans to involve them, he said.

Tags:
NREGA

How BJD steadily lost its old guard, Naveen Patnaik’s trusted aides over the years

Political Pulse2 hr ago

Senior BJD leader Prafulla Kumar Mallik's suspension for criticizing the party's functioning and lack of responsible opposition adds to the growing discontent and resignations within the party. With reduced involvement and recent surgery of party leader Patnaik, there is a leadership vacuum and the party must redefine its role in opposition to regain lost ground.

View all shorts

Live Blog