Ratnadeep package for Gujarat’s diamond workers announced

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today announced ‘Ratnadeep skill enhancement training assistance package’ for slow-down hit diamond artisans of the state who are facing the adverse impacts of global meltdown. Global economy goes on a downward spiral; many diamond artisans are facing the crisis of unemployment. With a view to provide alternate employment and skill enhancing training to such diamond workers, a special relief package is declared.

The package will be implemented initially in Surat, Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar. Five institutes have been short-listed. Which includes (1) Indian Diamond Institute, Surat (2) National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad (3) National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Gandhinagar (4) Gujarat Diamond Industries Training Institute, Rakhial, Ahmedabad and (5) National Institute of Jewelery design. Renowned government, non-government and private institutes may be roped in for providing training.

The government of Gujarat will provide skill based job oriented training to jobless diamond workers maximum for four months. Each trainee will get daily stipend of Rs100. Maximum monthly stipend ceiling has been fixed at Rs2500. Training for skills such as polishing, diamond assortment, bruiting, grading, planing and marking, jewelery making etc. will be provided under the package. Curricula of Skill enhancement training module are to be decided in consultation with Gujarat Council for Vocational Training and I.D.I of Indian Government.

After completion of training the government will do necessary to ensure that trained workers get bank loan in priority through Vajpayee bankable scheme, Prime Minister employment program and rural industry scheme.

Training institutes are to be paid Rs.2700/ per trainee, for their tuition- fees, certification, exam-fees, procuring training materials and other expenses.

In phase one, 15000 workers will be trained. The government of Gujarat has sanctioned Rs12 crore for this purpose. The Employment training director and Industry Commissioner will work as nodal agencies for this package. The government has appointed a state level committee led by principal secretary of Industry and Mines department to ensure the success of the package. Three district level committees led by collectors of Ahmedabad, Surat and Bhavnagar are also formed to explore alternate employment options.

Earlier on Friday the Agriculture minister had announced short term agricultural loan at the rate of six per cent to the jobless diamond workers while other farmers at seven per cent. There are around 1 million jobless diamond workers in the state.