GETTING BACK THE SHINE

has just returned to Surat from his village in Uttar Pradesh. He left the city in one of the first special trains to Uttar Pradesh during the lockdown. As a worker in a diamond unit in Surat, whose 20,000-plus units cut and polish nine out of every 10 rough diamonds in the world, Parekh was earning over ₹600 per day. He tried farming back home but realised that earnings were not enough to feed his family of seven, including three children and parents. He decided to return when former colleagues told him on phone that diamond factories in Surat were re-opening. Though prospects are not very bright now due to persisting coronavirus fears, he is confident of getting his old has got some big orders.”