Indian jewelers have been complaining since long about the so called ‘harassment’ by the government officials in absence of an authentic identification with them while carrying jewellery pieces from one place to the other. Jewelers face various problems especially when gems, jewellery and precious metals are in transit due to identity problems during government checks at transit points, public Places, road blocks, tariff barriers by Statutory Authorities, Officials. Jewellers find that their representatives are being detained by the authorities either at airport, railways, bus stations etc.
Sometimes, even when the carrier proves his bonafide identity, the officials insist on opening the bags where these precious materials are kept in public domain and places thereby affecting significant risk to the material and the person carrying the goods. Even when the person who is carrying such goods produces all the related documents, records, etc. the authorities insist on detaining the person for want of proper identity proof and thereby causing uncountable hardship to the person.
To neutralize this problem once for all, the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF), the country’s apex and the largest single trade body for the promotion and growth of trade in gems and jewellery across India, has recently introduced a first-of-its-kind Jewellers Identity Card (JID), a distinctive and smart identity card establishing the authenticity and legitimate business undertaking of its member jewelers and their employees. India’s Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Mr. Kalraj Mishra recently unveiled the same on February 21, 2015 during GJF’s annual event of National Jewellery Awards 2015 in Mumbai.
JID is a matchless identification credential for an individual working in the domestic gems and jewellery sector allowing him the free movement of gems and jewellery pieces within and outside the city, state or inside the country. GJF’s Founder, Life Members and 5-year members and they can nominate, recommend their employees and personnel. Individuals who meet JID eligibility requirements would be allotted a tamper-resist credential with hologram, so that no counterfeiting would be possible easily. The JID will display employee’s professional details to allow for a positive link between the card and the individual and privacy of data would be taken care of.
Chairman, GJF, Mr. Haresh Soni says, “The prime purpose of JID is to provide comfort to all constituents of the national gems & jewellery trade especially to small jewelers to avoid various problems faced by them in establishing their credentials to Government authorities. JID is an ultimate solution to the problems faced by the jewellery carriers in respect to establishing their bonafide identity and association with the gems & jewellery industry and the GJF. JID will also prove useful for identification of the persons internally i.e. within the trade whenever persons travel to another entities for delivering or collecting the goods. The entire programme of JID is credible because it has got the support of the Union Government.”
Director of GJF Mr. G. V. Sreedhar says, “The JID initiative launched by GJF has been recognized, supported and endorsed by India’s MSME Ministry. JID provides various value additions like access to a 24 hour dedicated helpline in case of emergencies. GJF has tied with Assist America (AA) to provide prime identity of JID holder and offer emergency medical assistance and transportation under medical supervision, etc. JID would also provide additional value additions in terms of access to hospitals, hotels, restaurants and other utility service places.”
The JID card would be used as a proof for identity only, of his association with his industry. Thus, the card holder does not justify the validity of the goods being carried by such person, and such person is also expected to carry all the required documents and proofs necessary for the authentication of the source and destination of goods carried by him.
The GJF has mooted the concept of JID especially for the Gems & Jewellery ibdustry which has over a period of time experienced a fundamental transformation in terms of the emergence of jewellery brands and designs, retail revolution, etc. With changing circumstances, the Jeweler has become more specialized and sophisticated with the emergence of focused, separate manufacturing and marketing divisions. This has affected a significant movement of the goods both from the manufacturing locations to the marketing centers and between marketing centers, grading laboratories, hall marking centers. This not only increases the risk to stakeholders but also increase the exposure of the carriers (Employers, logistics companies, Representatives of Jewellers, etc.) to the various authorities who are responsible for the administration, tax collection and vigilance in the country.
Posted by Suresh Chotai
