Hon. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Aviation Shri Suresh Prabhu unveiled the Parichay Card for gem & jewellery sector workers, artisans and craftsmen in India at a function in Mumbai yesterday where he also launched the Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery.

The specially designed smart card is an initiative taken by The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) to provide identification and proper authentication to holders for social security purposes. It will also help create a verified and well-crafted database for gem & jewellery workers to provide them better job opportunities, help to find financial support from banks & financial institutions and provide better healthcare services. While it gives the workers a valid proof of their employment or identity, it also makes them eligible for various initiatives.

Along with the card, GJEPC will also provide an optional health insurance cover ‘Swasthya Kosh’ for all the Parichay card holders. This specially created fund will be under the GJNRF (The Gem and Jewellery National Relief Foundation) which will receive donations that are eligible for 80G tax benefits.

Parichay Card holders who enrol for the Swasthya Ratna health insurance policy for a sum assured of Rs 1,00,000 for themselves and their family (Spouse and 2 Children) will have to pay just 25% cost towards premium. The premium for the policy is capped at Rs 1,400 for self-cover and Rs 2,200 for family-cover. The remaining 75% of this premium amount will be covered by the Swasthya Kosh fund. The Swasthya Ratna scheme is being managed by Edelweiss Insurance Brokers, who will also be the Swasthya Kosh insurance brokers.

Simultaneously, GJEPC is in final stages of talks with the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) for national classification of gem & jewellery sector workers/ craftsmen under LMIS (Labour Management Information Systems). This segment-wise classification of workers, craftsmen and artisans will provide additional benefits under relevant MoSDE schemes.

Mr. Pramod Kumar Agrawal, Chairman, The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), said, “The $40 bn gem and jewellery industry, is heavily dependent on the karigars, artisans and the craftsmen of India. Today India has become global pioneer in the business of diamond processing, only because of this extremely talented and skilled workforce. As a token of appreciation and with the intention to give back to these precious jewels of the industry, the council has come forward for the betterment of these workforce.”

Stating that the Swasthya Ratna Scheme has received a phenomenal response and several GJEPC member companies have taken this policy for their workers and office staff, Agrawal added, “Currently the scheme is in its third year and till date it has covered more than 4 lakh lives. It motivated us to do more for the industry and hence we launched the Parichay Card.”

Acknowledging the phenomenal contribution made by those in the workforce year after year, Agrawal said, “We feel proud of the talented workforce of over 5 million craftsmen, artisans and karigars who are an integral part of the overall eco-system of gems and jewellery exports. As a token of appreciation and to support and nurture the talent, this is a small initiative from GJEPC.”

Pic caption: Unveiling the Parichay Card (from l) Shri Dulichand Karel, (Chairman-Bhartiya Swarnkar Sangh, Jaipur), Shri Senthil Nathan (Dy. Secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry), Shri Mohit Bharatiya (IBJA), Smt. Rupa Dutta (Economic Adviser, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry), Shri Sanjay Kaka Patil (MP), Shri Suresh Prabhu (Hon. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Aviation),  Shri Pramod Kumar Agrawal (Chairman-Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council),  Shri Anantha Padmanaban (Chairman, All India Gems & Jewellery Domestic Council) and Shri Rajesh Khosla (Chairman-Association of Gold Refineries and Mints, Cochin)