The country’s Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s (GJEPC) began the nationwide rollout in West Bengal, providing its traditional jewellery artisans with additional health benefits from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE), and valid authentication for social security purposes.
The GJEPC is also in talks with the MoSDE over the national classification of artisans under the Labour Management Information Systems.
The main objective of the project is to establish a verified database for gem and jewellery workers, while promoting better job opportunities help in securing financial support and improved healthcare services.
“The USD$40 billion (AU$55 billion) gem and jewellery industry were heavily dependent on the artisans and craftsmen of India,” GJEPC chairman Mr Pramod Kumar Agrawal said.
The GJEPC has also launched a welfare scheme called the Swasthya Ratna, which will provide social security and health insurance coverage for jewellery craftsmen. They and any member of their immediate family can benefit from health insurance coverage by paying a 25 per cent premium.
The remaining 75 per cent will be shouldered by a special fund from the GJEPC called the Swasthya Kosh.