Indian labourers dream of striking it rich after ‘$52,400’ diamond find

Seven impoverished laborers in Panna, a diamond mining region in central India, have made a discovery that could potentially transform their lives. The group claims they unearthed a substantial diamond on a plot of land they leased two years prior. Measuring 17.96 carats, the rock was declared "gem quality" by Ravi Patel, a Panna diamond official, and is considered one of the finest natural diamonds.

Patel indicated the diamond's value could exceed 5 million rupees ($52,400), which would be auctioned off in the first half of October.

Panna, situated in Madhya Pradesh state, is India's primary hub for diamond reserves, but the district is among India's least developed, suffering from poverty, water scarcity, and unemployment. The region is a magnet for diamond enthusiasts, yet the benefits often do not reach the miners. Many laborers in Panna are daily-wage earners who lease the land from owners, meaning if they discover a diamond, the profit goes to the landowner, not the miners. However, this particular find is unique as the actual discoverers stand to benefit.

Akhilesh Pal, one of the miners, leased the mine in Sarokha village two years ago for a minimal amount. The mine had been idle for a year before its recent reopening. While inspecting the mine after heavy rains, Pal spotted the diamond on top of the old mine. "We had been mining there for about two years," said Pal, "but we had no luck, so we closed the mine for a year.

We had started another mine right next to it." "When we went there to inspect the new one, we also looked inside the old mine, and that's where we found it - right on top," he added.

Patel stated that the diamond would be put up for sale at the upcoming quarterly auction in October, when buyers from both India and abroad could bid for it. The government would deduct a 12% royalty from the sale proceeds, and the remaining money would be divided equally among the seven workers. For these impoverished laborers, the discovery may turn their fortunes around - according to local media, three of them, who were previously too poor to marry, now hope the windfall will help them find brides.