Mumbai: The Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation (GJNRF), backed by prominent industry bodies, including GJEPC, was bestowed with the esteemed Jamnalal Bajaj Uchit Vyavahar Puraskar for a Charitable Association by the Council for Fair Business Practices (CFBP) at its 35th Awards Ceremony held in Mumbai on 16th May.
GJNRF was recognised for its for its ethically driven philanthropy and commitment to fair business practices. Mr. Sanjay Kothari, Chairman of GJNRF and former Chairman of GJEPC, received the distinguished award, at the hands of the chief guest Mr. Keki Mistry, Vice Chairman & CEO, HDFC Ltd. and Mr. B.N. Srikrishna, former Judge, Supreme Court of India among other dignitaries.
The CFBP Jamnalal Bajaj Award ceremony was held at the Indian Merchants Chamber, Mumbai, and felicitated the torchbearers of Fair Business Practices. Constituted in 1966, the Award recognises and commemorates businessmen, industrialists, large, medium, and small manufacturing & service enterprises, and charitable organisations that uphold the highest ethical practices in business.
The Awards are judged on parameters including customer satisfaction, employee motivation, environmental protection, compliance with law, and CSR among others.
Commenting on the award, Mr. Sanjay Kothari said, “I wish to convey my sincere thanks to the previous chairmen of GJNRF, Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya and Mr. Ketan Parikh. The Trust has been run very well by the all the board members and cooperation of the industry bodies such as GJEPC, GIA, BDB, and IGI among several others. GJNRF was formed because even though companies were individually doing charitable activities, we wanted to show a human face of the whole industry and have a united agenda.”
Mr. Kothari expressed deep gratitude for the honour of being acknowledged as the foremost charitable trust. He noted that the recognition underlined GJNRF’s unwavering commitment to making a far-reaching impact in the gem and jewellery industry as well as society at large.
Mr. Vipul Shah, GJEPC Chairman, expressed immense pride, “The esteemed recognition of GJNRF is a testament to the dedication of the gem and jewellery industry towards the overall welfare of the nation. Charity is an integral part of our industry’s ethos, and most businesses spend a significant percentage of their profits to run schools, old-age homes, orphanages, and provide help during calamities.”
Going back to the genesis of the foundation, Kothari stated that it was during 1999, in the aftermath of Kargil War that some trade luminaries decided to float the GJNRF Trust, which was registered in Mumbai, to provide assistance to the martyrs’ families and defence personnel.
Since its inception, the GJNRF has carried out several charitable activities and offered timely aid and mobilised assistance during natural calamities like cyclones, quakes, droughts, wars, and covid pandemic.
