Three Diamond Suicides in a Week in Surat
June 18, 23
(IDEX Online) - Three diamond workers have taken their own lives in Surat within a week because of the industry slowdown, according to news reports.
The Indian Express says the most recent was Paresh Mahadik, 40, a diamond polisher for 15 years who lost his job two months ago.
Another diamond polisher, Veenu Moradiya, 53, and his family - wife Shardaben, 50, and children Krish, 20, and Senita, 15 - all took their lives days earlier.
On the same day, diamond worker Jenish Gujarati, 25, committed suicide at a bridge over the Tapi river.
Their deaths follow the suicides of four jobless diamond polishers within 10 days in April.
Three men and a woman committed suicide due to financial stress, according to a report in The Blunt Times, a news portal covering Surat and south Gujarat.
The Diamond Workers' Union Gujarat (DWUG) said workers were being laid off, working shorter weeks or even being paid half-salary.
Pic shows general view of Surat