Summary:
"Vitthal Mendapara, president of the Bhavnagar diamond association, says, "There are about 3,000 diamond workshops in Bhavnagar and Botad districts, employing about 200,000 people, of whom the majority are Patidars." Amreli: Surat in south Gujarat is the biggest diamond polishing and trading hub in the world. Between 1980 and 1990, some 2.5 lakh diamond workers had moved to Surat from Amreli district. There are 1,280 diamond workshops in Amreli where 48,000 workers are employed. However, this flourishing business, has taken a hit in recent times.Lalit Thummar, president of the Amreli district diamond association, says "Amreli is a mini-Surat in the diamond trade.".