Mumbai: India’s Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) through its CSR initiative ‘Jewellers for Hope’ charity dinner raised funds to donate the proceeds towards Indian Army Welfare, Tribal Integrated Development & Education Trust (TIDE) and Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care (SRLC), held on 8th August, Mumbai.
Mr. Pramod Kumar Agrawal, Chairman, GJEPC, hosted Jewellers for Hope charity dinner in the presence of Guest of Honour Mr. Paul Rowley, Executive Vice President, Diamond Trading & Distribution, De Beers Group; Mr. Evgeny Agureev, Director, Alrosa; Mr. Colin Shah, Vice Chairman, GJEPC; Mr. Milan Chokshi, Convener – Promotions & Marketing, GJEPC and Mr. Mansukh Kothari (Convener, National Exhibitions, GJEPC) amongst others.
Mr. Pramod Kumar Agrawal, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “Jewellers for Hope” is a platform where gem & jewellery industry comes together to contribute for a common cause. As an industry, we have always contributed generously for the upliftment of the underprivileged. The gem & jewellery industry has been involved in large-scale philanthropic initiatives particularly in the field of primary education, health & hygiene since a long time. This year, we have chosen to support niche areas such as the Indian army welfare, tribal welfare, affordable healthcare and maternal care to the underprivileged. I thank all contributors for coming forward and supporting the Jewellers for Hope initiative.
A fund of Rs 1 Crore was raised from Jewellers for Hope Charity Dinner event and it was evenly distributed to Army Welfare, Tribal Integrated Development & Education Trust (TIDE) and Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC) respectively.
Mr. Paul Rowley, Executive Vice President, Diamond Trading & Distribution, De Beers Group, said, “Diamond does changes lives. Diamond is truly forever, and it reflects love. At De Beers we have always believed in helping in building the society. India is no different from the African nations, where there is abundance of talent and skillsets. Through this initiative we would like to make the society a better place to live.”
Mr. Colin Shah, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, said, “The selection of the three NGOs Army Welfare, Tribal Integrated Development & Education Trust (TIDE) and Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care (SRLC), was a unanimous choice by the GJEPC members. All the three NGOs have done outstanding work for the needy and underprivileged.”
Bollywood actor and theater personality Boman Irani was the host for the night, who entertained the audience with his great comic style and won the hearts of all for singing the iconic Frank Sinatra’s song My Way.
Brief about the Beneficiary NGOs for 2019:
ARMY WELFARE: the donation would be used to fund projects for the Army welfare for (i) Project for furniture Repair; and (ii) Project for internal painting of Diamond Awwa Hostel (DAH).
TRIBAL INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION TRUST (TIDE): TIDE, part of Bhansali Trust has been working ceaselessly for the upliftment of the poor and needy tribal people. The work has expanded and now the trust is working on projects in 17 states including Mushar community in Bihar. The project under consideration for donation is their program in Kishangunj, Bihar which focusses on primary education, primary health, hygiene, income generation through micro credit groups etc of tribal and Mushar Communities.
SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRA LOVE & CARE (SRLC) Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC), is an endeavor to bring about a change in the lives of the underprivileged, across the life spectrum. This unique 10-fold benevolent program is spread over 50 cities worldwide and has over 500 volunteers devoted to various causes related to mankind, animals and the environment. In an endeavor to provide affordable healthcare & maternal care services to remotest areas of Gujarat, SRLC has established Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital in Valsad District. It is proposed to contribute towards the said NICU which plays a major role in saving the lives of prematurely born infants and treating those with birth complications.
