Overview
- State data show 89,948 applications for school-fee assistance from diamond workers across Surat, Ahmedabad, Botad and Amreli.
- Only 170 children in Ahmedabad have received Rs 24.03 lakh in total, with no disbursals yet reported in Surat, Botad or Amreli.
- The scheme offers up to Rs 13,500 per child for one year, paid directly to schools, for workers who lost jobs after March 31, 2024.
- Surat District Collector met the Surat Diamond Association to kick off verification, and the association plans to hire about 50 temporary staff to process 70,254 local forms.
- Authorities say applications are under scrutiny, while unions report schools pressing for fees and workers struggling to produce employment proof required for eligibility.