Many NGOs come forward with a healing touch

Another diamond worker committed suicide on Monday. Around nine cases of deaths have already been registered in the last fifteen days from this labour intensive industry. So grave is the situation that the NGOs, which were earlier working for HIV/AIDS affected people, have now shifted their focus on counselling the diamond workers on livelihood.

The NGOs maintain that labourers, at present, are worried about their livelihood and are not bothered about health issues. The NGOs are counselling them, calling them to the Surat Civil Hospital, as well as referring them to doctors so that their suicidal tendencies can be curbed.

For instance, the Sarvangi Vikas Trust, which works for people with HIV/AIDS, has taken up counselling in Katargam, Varachha, Kapodara, Mahidharpura, and Puna gam to provide them "moral support" to fight these turbulent times. "At this time they are not ready to listen to any health issues," said Dinesh, a Consultant with the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO).

Navnirman Trust has been working on HIV/AIDS issues. But now, they are working on the livelihood issues of diamond workers. "We counsel them to take up alternative jobs in textile companies," said Ajaysinh Rajput, president of the trust. Ekta Yuvak Mandal, another NGO, is also helping the diamond workers.

The diamond industry provides employment to over 10 lakh people in Gujarat.

Owing to the global economic slump, the industry is facing a severe crisis. It is yet to come out of the extended vacation and the fear of large-scale retrenchment looms large. Psychologists opine that age, lack of education and lifestyle are some of the reasons inciting the workers to take the extreme step.

"The average age of diamond cutters and polishers is between 15 and 30 years. Most of them are school dropouts and have no other skills," said Gaurang Jani, a social psychologist and professor in Gujarat University.

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