GRT Jewellers is one of India’s foremost jewellery stores having an exquisite collection of jewellery in gold, diamond, platinum and silver. Founded by Mr G Rajendran in 1964, GRT is one of the fastest-growing shopping hubs in the city of Chennai. A household name in South India, GRT is known for purity. It also offers a broad choice of jewellery patterns.
Apart from jewellery, the house of GRT has also forayed into diverse business groups such as hotels and resorts, agriculture, eco-friendly energy sources like solar and wind energy, trading and setting up educational institutions.
CSR Initiatives
Sankara Nethralaya
GRT Jewellers contributed `1 crore towards expansion of infrastructure at Sankara Nethralaya for building a new floor on their annexe at Pycrofts Garden Road, Chennai.
Sankara Nethralaya is a world-class institution which was founded by Dr Sengamedu Srinivasa Badrinath, along with a group of philanthropists as a charitable notfor- profit eye hospital. Today, it has grown into a super specialty institution for ophthalmic care and receives patients from all over the country and abroad. It has gained international excellence and is acclaimed for its quality care and compassion. On an average, 1,200 patients walk through the doors of the institution and 200 surgeries are performed every day.
GRT Jewellers
Institutions such as Sankara Nethralaya represent hope especially for the economically downtrodden. Caring service draws patients from almost all parts of India.
Cancer Institute – Treating the downtrodden
GRT Jewellers provided `1 crore assistance towards creating awareness about cancer and its prevention among the economically downtrodden people.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Relief Fund In 2015, floods affected the Coromandel coast of the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. More than 500 people were killed and over 1.8 million (18 lakh) displaced.
The severe storm brought life to a standstill and almost everyone experienced some kind of loss. Thousands were left homeless and vulnerable, and were at the mercy of the weather and the charity of good Samaritans. GRT Jewellers, as a socially responsible corporate, provided Rs. 1 crore financial aid to Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund for the development and upkeep of flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu.
The severe storm brought life to a standstill and almost everyone experienced some kind of loss. Thousands were left homeless and vulnerable, and were at the mercy of the weather and the charity of good Samaritans. GRT Jewellers, as a socially responsible corporate, provided Rs. 1 crore financial aid to Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund for the development and upkeep of flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu.
Swachh Ganga Abhiyan – Cleaning the Holy Ganga
Following demonetization, the Government of India encouraged all the merchants to promote cashless transactions across the country under a 100-day campaign titled ‘Digidhan Yojana’. In order to provide further incentives, a draw was organized to reward merchant partners who switched from cash to cashless payment. The Tambaram branch of GRT won the draw and a prize money was presented for a transaction of 300. The prize was handed over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a gala gathering. The prize money 50 lakhs was donated back to the Prime Minister’s Swachh Ganga Abhiyan to be spent in the service of common good.
Vikatan Aram Seya Virumbu – Educating the poor:
Vikatan Group, a leading publications group in Chennai, started an initiative to educate poor students of interior villages studying in government schools. GRT volunteered to partner with Vikatan by donating `1 crore for building school infrastructure for the underprivileged children, so that the future generation gets to study in a better environment and develop their village.
Kerala flood relief – Rebuilding God’s own country: The massive scale of destruction in the wake of the recent floods in Kerala left the country shocked and the state reeling. GRT, which plays an integral role both in times of celebration and in distress, was evidenced during the recent devastating floods in Kerala.
In order to rebuild God’s own country, GRT provided financial aid of Rs. 50 laksh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Gaja cyclone relief – Showing solidarity: Cyclone Gaja made a landfall on 16 November 2018 and it affected the coastal and delta districts of Tamil Nadu. The trail of destruction left by Cyclone Gaja, had brought southern parts of Tamil Nadu to a standstill and GRT, showing its solidarity towards the people, gave financial aid of Rs. 50 Lakhs to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
Amar Seva Sangam – Catering to the disabled: Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA) was established by Mr Ramakrishnan at Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, in the International Year of the Disabled to cater to the disabled with a focus on rural areas. Physically challenged children from ages five to 17 are provided with free food, shelter, clothing, medical aid and appliances so that they can pursue education without any financial worry. Free transport is also provided for students opting for higher education outside the campus. Special coaching is also given to these children.
Expansion of medical testing unit – Treating the poor: GRT provided financial assistance of Rs. 1 crore towards the expansion of its medical testing unit (MTU). This unit acts as a nerve centre and is extensively used by the families of the physically challenged. This is a popular centre where not only the physically challenged, but others with orthopedic problems, stroke and neurological issues come to avail of the facilities. Due to increased awareness and availability of advanced medical facilities, number of patients are on the rise over the years.
Karnataka flood relief – Supporting the people: The destruction caused by the floods in Karnataka in August 2019 brought the southern parts of the state to a halt. GRT, in its attempt to pay back and support the people of Karnataka in these trying times, gave financial aid of Rs. 25 lakhs to Karnataka Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
Lending a helping hand during the pandemic: During the COVID-19 pandemic second wave, GRT Jewellers contributed a sum of Rs.1 Crore to the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to further the state government’s efforts to restore normalcy.
GRT also donated Rs. 30 lakhs to The ESI Hospital, K.K. Nagar, towards funding 2 ventilators, 950 PPE kits, 20,000 gloves and various other medical and surgical supplies. The Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital was given 2 oxygen concentrators worth Rs. 1.6 lakhs while the Chettinad Hospital was given 5 oxygen concentrators amounting to Rs. 3.5 lakhs.
Hospital supplies worth Rs.1 lakh were given to The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Additionally, medical supplies worth Rs. 89,600, Rs. 1.5 lakhs and Rs. 5.6 lakhs were given to The Government Hospital, Vellore, Pattukotai CFO and Primary Hospital, Kumbakonam respectively. GRT Jewellers donated Rs. 10 lakhs to Rajasthani Health Centre to strengthen their infrastructure. Above all, GRT Jewellers has been distributing free food packets to over 5000 people every day through various showrooms across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Bengaluru.
Charity that surpasses barriers: GRT Jewellers has even reached out to help 1100 staff from Tamil Nadu Advocates Clerks Association, Around 1000 staff of 23 Temples across Tamil Nadu, 1700 artistes of the Chinnthirai Nadigar Sangam and 50 members of the transgender community with essential provisions to last for a month.
