Amreli: Surat in south Gujarat is the biggest diamond polishing and trading hub in the world. The backbone of this business are Patidar workers and businessmen from across the Gulf of Cambay - from the Saurashtra districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar In 2006, then chief minister Narendra Modi had launched the Jyotigram Yojana - a programme to split the power supply in villages into farm connections and domestic or commercial ones.Too much power was going into drawing groundwater and with water tables falling, it was getting more and more inefficient. By splitting the supply, power could be better used for non-farm economic activity. Diamond polishing was one such bright area and lots of small units sprang up.These districts had the manpower as many people were involved in the Surat diamond business, and they pounced on the chance to set up businesses closer to home. 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." There are 1,280 diamond workshops in Amreli where 48,000 workers are employed. Between 1980 and 1990, some 2.5 lakh diamond workers had moved to Surat from Amreli district. This trade is the only employment option in this region, apart from agriculture. As polishing work was possible even in small towns and villages, this trade started moving back to Saurashtra.Ramesh Chavda, a diamond worker from the Rokadiapara area of Amreli, says, "I have been polishing diamonds for about seven years. Now there is a massive slowdown and I can't find work. Now I am earning a livelihood from farming, I take care of people's fields on a commission basis. There are many people like me in and around Amreli, so an effect on the election is guaranteed."Polishing work gives people salaries in the range of Rs 10,000 - 20,000 without any education needed. Even the workshops are air-conditioned. This business runs on cash and demonetization and GST have had a crushing impact on the business. While workshops are usually humming by Labh Pancham after a week-long shutdown post Diwali — many are still shut this year.B K Jhalawadia, president of the Junagadh diamond association, says, "This time the diamond polishing business was closed for a month after Diwali. This is unusual and will definitely affect the elections. If diamond workers don't get work, they will react negatively. This business is also largely run by Patidars."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." He says GST and 'notebandi' have put the industry in the doldrums. Some 15 lakh people in Gujarat get work from this business but there is no government support. "Even the Hira Vikas Board was closed down by the government," says an anguished Mendapara.Ten years ago an advertisement was made, about a diamond park to be set up in Bhavnagar but nothing has come of it yet.

Stay updated with all the Latest Rajkot headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.