Originally posted: April 13, 2020 by Support Your Local Jeweler
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council has contributed a fund from its own reserve of $6.56 Million to help daily wage workers in India amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.
This fund will also aide the Indian Government in undertaking several welfare initiatives throughout India.
The GJEPC is an organization set up by the Government of India to promote the Indian diamond and jewelry industry and its products. Nine out of 10 diamonds are cut and polished in India by expert craftsmen and women.
“The economic situation of our country and that of our industry has taken a severe beating,” Mr. Pramod Agrawal, Chairman of GJEPC said. “Our businesses are impacted, but the most affected is our daily wage worker community. This is an industry that contributes 7% to India’s total GDP and employs more than 5 million in our work force. It becomes important and mandatory at such distressing times to take adequate care of our employees and support them wholeheartedly.”
GJEPC has pledged to not only take care of those in the gem and jewelry trade but for the entire country.
The GJEPC’s willingness to help the nation comes from their hope to take collective, positive, well-directed and timely action to provide relief during humanitarian disasters. With help and guidance from the Government, they have set into action the philosophy of bettering the lives of victims and giving aid and relief to worthy causes.
The government of India has continued to proactively take measures to contain the spread of the virus in the country.