Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Diamond city of India sees exodus of workers due to Covid-19 crisis

THOUSANDS of workers at the famed diamond units of Surat in Gujarat are leaving the city as the pandemic has left them in penury.

Over 600,000 people were employed in more than 9,000 stone-cutting and polishing units in Surat, known worldwide for its $24 billion diamond industry.


With the national lockdown imposed from March-end to the first week of June, these migrant workers were left jobless leading to an exodus.

As the Indian government eased the lockdown in June, business activities resumed. But, with over 600 workers and their families testing positive for coronavirus, Surat's local authorities were forced to shut them down again as a precautionary measure.

Though no official figures were available, head of a bus operators’ union in Surat, Dinesh Andhan, said that daily about 300 buses ferried nearly 6,000 people, mostly diamond industry workers, from the city to their native towns -- mostly in the Saurashtra and northern regions of Gujarat, and some in states such as Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Another 4,000 workers left the Surat leaving in cars, trucks and other vehicles every day, he added.

“Many are leaving with their belongings, with heavy luggage accommodated on top of the buses,” Andhan noted.

“We are witnessing a greater rush of people leaving the city now than what it used to be during the Diwali vacations.”

Surat Diamond Workers' Union president Jaysukh Gajera said such a reverse migration was “unprecedented”, adding that about 70 per cent of the workers “may never come back”.

“They have been jobless for almost four months, and there is little hope the situation will improve in near future,” he said. “Nearly 1,500 families are leaving for their native places in mini-trucks every day with their belongings.”

More For You

Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus to step down after April polls

Chief adviser to the government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammed Yunus speaks during a live interview at Chatham House on June 11, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus to step down after April polls

BANGLADESH interim leader Muhammad Yunus said on Wednesday (11) that there was "no way" he wanted to continue in power after elections he has announced for April, the first since a mass uprising overthrew the government.

The South Asian nation of around 180 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt ousted then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, ending her 15-year rule.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leicester residents invited to shape future of local councils

The proposed reorganisation could save £43m a year, say council leaders, but critics question the figure

Leicester residents invited to shape future of local councils

Hannah Richardson

RESIDENTS can now have their say on a plan which would see the number of local councils in Leicestershire drop from eight to two.

The proposal is one of three put forward for the political re-organisation of Leicestershire after the government told local leaders it wanted areas with two tiers of councils – such as the county – to reduce it to a single-tier set up.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

India, US talks edge towards interim trade deal: Report

INDIAN and US negotiators reported progress after four days of closed-door meetings in New Delhi on Tuesday, focusing on market access for industrial and some agricultural goods, tariff cuts and non-tariff barriers, according to Indian government sources.

"The negotiations held with the US side were productive and helped in making progress towards crafting a mutually beneficial and balanced agreement including through achievement of early wins," one of the sources said to Reuters.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jaishankar-Getty

Jaishankar, who is currently in Europe a month after India launched Operation Sindoor, said Pakistan was training 'thousands' of terrorists 'in the open' and 'unleashing' them on India. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

India will strike deep into Pakistan if provoked, says Jaishankar

INDIA's external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said India would strike deep into Pakistan if provoked by terrorist attacks, and warned of retribution against terrorist organisations and their leaders in response to incidents like the Pahalgam attack.

Speaking to Politico on Monday, Jaishankar, who is currently in Europe a month after India launched Operation Sindoor, said Pakistan was training “thousands” of terrorists “in the open” and “unleashing” them on India.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves

Reeves said the government would focus investment on security, health, and the economy 'so working people all over our country are better off.'

Getty Images

Reeves to unveil spending plan with focus on defence and NHS

THE GOVERNMENT is set to announce its medium-term spending and investment plans on Wednesday, with significant increases expected for defence and healthcare, alongside reductions in other areas.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will present the spending review to parliament, outlining the government’s fiscal strategy aimed at boosting growth. This comes amid concerns about potential economic pressures from a possible return of Donald Trump to the US presidency and his proposed tariffs.

Keep ReadingShow less