Gujarat Polls: Amreli’s Diamond Business Weakens, Traders Cite GST

Diamond trader Lalit Thumar is upset because his diamond polishing factory, in Gujarat’s Amreli district, with 250 artisans has been stalled.

The Quint's team went to Amreli's diamond market and took note of the situation.

Diamond trader Lalit Thumar said that his factory usually commences work five days from Diwali but hasn’t been able to do so this time even after twenty days.

Since the factory is closed, the workers have taken to farming to earn their daily bread.

The disgruntled businessmen consider demonetisation and the imposition of GST responsible for their plight. Under the current tax norms, GST imposed a 16 percent tax on the diamond industry.

Big businessmen do not have problems, but small traders have a lot of trouble. All the small units have closed down.  The small merchant sells the merchandise only to a small trader. Now it has stopped.

Lalit Thumar, Diamond Businessman, Amreli

This problem is not only in Gujarat. Rather, the country has been witnessing troubles due to demonetisation and GST. Inflation has also increased.

Adarshbhai, Diamond Businessman, Amreli

There are about 50,000 small and medium diamond processing units in Surat and Saurashtra. There are around 2 lakh artisans. The diamond merchants are angry with the BJP after the recession in trade. The diamond merchants used to praise the BJP government. We were happy that for the first time after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a prime minister came with a strong intention, but now people are so disappointed. They are talking about voting for the Congress this time in elections.

Lalit Thumar, Diamond Businessman, Amreli 

Video Producer: Srishti Tyagi
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

(Voices of Gujarat: Tired of listening to netas make promises? As Gujarat goes to polls, The Quint wants to listen the real voices of Gujarat – the voters. Tell us what issues matter to you this election season. Send in your videos to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])