Chhota Udepur: Diamond industry provides great number of employment to Surat, portions of Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and even Amreli. However one unique place where this industry is providing employment is tribal populated Chhota Udepur in Central Gujarat.

Panvad in Chhota Udepur has over two dozen diamond units employing over 3,000 local persons. One diamond worker earns around Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 per day. Each diamond unit churns out about 1500 diamonds per day.

The diamond units here are operated by Surat based companies. Years ago, some persons from Kwant taluka of Chhota Udepur district had travelled to Surat and started working in diamond units there. Gradually they also brought others from Kwant taluka to Surat to join the industry. As Surat was located at distance, they asked one diamond unit owner in Surat to launch a factory in Panvad. The first diamond unit thus started in Panvad about 8 years ago, employing some 100 persons. As more and more people came forward to join diamond units, today there are over two dozen such units in Panvad.

Some five years ago, diamond workers would come to job on bicycles. Today they have bikes. Rough diamonds arrive at Panvad from Surat on daily basis and travel back as finished product.

There are challenges associated with this business of course. The main complain is regarding power cut by Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (MGVCL). Diamond units have also flourished in nearby Sankheda, Bodeli, Nasvadi etc places. Large number of women are also employed by units.

DeshGujarat

(Representational picture)