BIZ-GJEPC-ICARDS

The Gem & Jewellery Export

Promotion Council (GJEPC), the apex body of the gems and

jewellery industry, has introduced identity card for artisans

in West Bengal which will be rolled out nationally later this

month.

GJEPC is holding advanced talks with the 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, it said.

The council has also created Swasthya Kosh, a

special fund to offer health insurance to identity card

holders and their families.

The card would benefit the entire gem & jewellery

industry and ensure proper authentication for social security

purposes, it said.

The objective of this project was to create a verified

and well-crafted database for gem & jewellery workers to

provide them better job opportunities, help find financial

support from banks and financial institutions and provide

better healthcare services through specially designed smart

card, a GJEPC statement said on Friday.

Pramod Kumar Agrawal, chairman, GJEPC, said, "The USD

40 billion gem and jewellery industry was heavily dependent on

the artisans and craftsmen of India."

Today, India has become a global pioneer in the

business of diamond processing, only because of these

extremely talented and skilled workforce, he added.