The Surat District Education Office (DEO) has issued formal instructions to schools to begin accepting applications for fee relief from the children of unemployed diamond polishers. This follows a state government announcement of financial assistance for families affected by the diamond industry downturn over the past three years.
The scheme covers all grant-in-aid, self-financed, and government schools at the primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels across Surat. It is being coordinated by the Surat Diamond Association, the Surat District Employment Office, and the District Industries Centre.
Eligibility and Fee Relief Details
Diamond polishers who lost employment after March 2024 may apply for their children to receive fee assistance, subject to eligibility. Applicants must be aged over 21 and have a minimum of three years’ work experience in the diamond industry.
The assistance is provided to offset school fees for the 2025–26 academic session, with a maximum of ₹13,500 available per student.
Application Process and Documentation
Applicants must submit the School Fees Special Assistance Application form, along with supporting documents, to their child’s school between 9 June and 23 July. The documentation required includes:
- Aadhaar cards of the applicant and student
- A passport-size photograph of the applicant
- A one-year unemployment certificate
- A three-year work experience certificate issued by the District Employment Office, District Industries Centre, or the Surat Diamond Association
Non-Gujarati workers who meet the criteria may also apply.
Submission by Schools
Schools must forward the applications and documents to the District Industries Centre in three phases: 30 June, 7 July, and 24 July.
Each submission must include a forwarding letter, a list of student applicants, a cancelled cheque from the school, and the institution’s fees as approved by the Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC).
Surat District Education Officer Bhagirathsinh Parmar stated:
“We have issued the notification to all primary, secondary and higher secondary grant-in-aid, self-finance and government schools in the city. Diamond polishers mainly reside in Varachha, Kapodara, Punagam, Katargam, Sarthana, etc. Non-Gujarati polishers who match all the eligibility criteria can also fill such forms. We have strictly instructed all schools to complete the process with the given time frame. We are coordinating with the Surat Diamond Association, the Surat District Employment Office, and the District Industries Centre, and will make sure that diamond polishers should not face any problem in obtaining the necessary documents. If they do, they should contact us or any of these three offices, and their issue will be resolved.”
Context for the Jewellery Sector
The scheme addresses the impact of industry job losses on education access for the children of affected workers. The downturn in Surat’s diamond polishing sector, a key part of the global supply chain, continues to affect local employment.
The situation reflects how regional employment trends in polishing centres can influence broader industry conditions, particularly where workforce stability and socio-economic wellbeing intersect with the jewellery manufacturing supply chain. Jewellers operating within or alongside polishing networks may wish to remain informed of such developments, given their potential to affect operational continuity and labour availability.
Key Dates
- Application period: 9 June – 23 July
- School submission phases: 30 June, 7 July, 24 July
- Authorised offices for certification: Surat District Employment Office, District Industries Centre, Surat Diamond Association
Schools and applicants requiring support are advised to contact the DEO or the coordinating bodies listed.
