India: A notorious polluted city that is a major diamond cutting center, where roads are lined with flimsy shanties to house workers. Diamond cutters are recruited as young children by traveling agents going from village to village. Sharp young eyes are much prized. Child labor is illegal in India, but the law is ignored. Journalists have documented 8 year-olds working with dangerous cutting wheels, breathing in the black diamond dust. More than 64,000 children work in the India diamond cutting industry. 20 to 40 cents is paid on a piece work basis for the cutting and polishing a small diamond, which is shocking considering what diamonds sell for to consumers in America. In 2001, 85% by weight of the world's gem quality diamonds were cut and polished in India.
Surat (Gujarati: સà«àª°àª¤) is a port city in the Indian state of Gujarat and administrative headquarters of the Surat District. As of 2006, Surat and its metropolitan area had a population of approximately 3.9 million. It is the second largest city in Gujarat and ninth largest in Indiahttp://www.citymayors.com/gratis/indian_cities.html.