GJEPC donates Rs 75.4 lakh to fight coronavirus in diamond hub Surat

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jul 23, 2020

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council has donated Rs 75.4 lakh ($101,000) through the Surat Diamond Association to a Surat hospital, to purchase ventilators, among other medical supplies. 

As part of its efforts to fight coronavirus in diamond hub Surat, the GJEPC donated funds to the SDA-Diamond Hospital & Medical Research Center (Matrushree Ramuba Tejani & Shantaba Vidiya Hospital), it announced on its website. The hospital had shared in a letter that it did not have a dedicated ward or adequate equipment to treat coronavirus patients. 
 
The GJEPC’s funds were used to purchase two adult ICU ventilators, two neonet NICU ventilators, four multi-parameter patient monitors, four ICU beds, and other supplies, according to the GJEPC. Surat, which accounts for a large part of India’s diamond manufacturing, has seen coronavirus cases increase recently, with the resumption of business activities in the area.

The GJEPC has run a number of charitable initiatives during the coronavirus pandemic and donated Rs 21 crore to the PM Cared Fund. The organisation also set up the GJEPC Covid Fund for karigars to donate funds directly to daily wage workers for which it has received over 70,000 applications. 
 
The jewellery organisation also recently launched its online classes titled ‘Uncut 2020 Workshop’ series. On July 20, the GJEPC held its first session on ‘How to Enhance Productivity in Jewellery Manufacturing,’ which was conducted by jewellery technology expert Parag Vyas and attended by over 115 participants, according to the GJEPC.