By IANS
Ahmedabad : The government should initiate welfare programmes for diamond workers instead of setting up a development board for the industry, Surat Diamond Industry Association president C.P. Vanani said Tuesday.
“The industry has grown over the years on its own and is now well established. A development board for it is not necessary,” he told IANS while commenting on the Congress party’s election manifesto promise to set up a diamond industry board.
The industry would, however, welcome any governmental step to provide homes for industry workers, Vanani said.
“There are about half a million workers and shelter is an urgent need. It is good if the proposed board addresses this issue,” he pointed out.
Almost every third resident of Surat, which has a population of 3.5 million, is connected with the diamond polishing industry
Workers travel from different parts of India to find employment in the city.
The Congress manifesto also promised establishment of diamond parks.
However, the manifesto did not say anything about rejuvenating the textile industry or expanding the engineering industries, both of which constitute the key industrial base of Gujarat.
The document merely said: “Special attention will be given for the development of export-oriented industries in view of increasing globalisation.”
When asked why textile industry has not found a mention in the party manifesto, Gujarat Pradesh Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki said the industry was no doubt important and its interests would not be ignored.
The manifesto, however, stressed the ship-breaking industry, which declined during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule, would be revived.
On special economic zones (SEZ), the manifesto hinted at a recasting of the state’s existing policy.
It made it clear that only “industrialists willing to develop SEZ” would be allowed to buy the land.
In other words, nobody would be permitted to buy or acquire land only to create the zone without actually undertaking manufacturing activity.