Surat: In a step towards expanding women’s participation in the gem and jewellery industry, Surat has emerged as a pioneer in training women artisans in diamond polishing and jewellery manufacturing on a large scale.The initiative was driven by growing demand from the industry, which has sought to create opportunities for 650 women artisans. Responding to the requirement, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) launched Unnati, a dedicated training programme aimed at equipping women with specialised skills and creating sustainable employment opportunities.So far, around 200 women have registered for the programme. Encouraged by the response in Surat, GJEPC plans to replicate the initiative in other cities across the country.Jewellery manufacturers in Surat had begun experimenting with the employment of women after providing them with specialised training. Following encouraging results from the initial batches, manufacturers gradually expanded their recruitment of women artisans.“We trained and employed women with the expectation of achieving better results a couple of years ago and the results were encouraging. This motivated us to continue the initiative. Now, GJEPC is taking it to the national level,” said Amit Korat, president of the Surat Jewellery Manufacturers Association (SJMA).Industry representatives say women artisans have demonstrated strong dedication and precision in their work. “We received a written demand for 650 women jewellery artisans, following which this programme was developed. It will provide women with equal opportunities in an industry where they can work in a safe environment,” said Jayanti Savaliya, chairperson, GJEPC (Gujarat region).The programme was formally launched by deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghvi in the presence of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakiya and GJEPC chairperson Kirit Bhansali.Sanghvi said the initiative was creating meaningful opportunities for women in the gem and jewellery sector and emphasised the need to extend such opportunities beyond Surat to Gujarat’s rural and tribal areas, where greater participation by women could contribute to economic opportunities for families and communities.The programme provides training opportunities across specialised job roles, including diamond assorter, diamond polisher, diamond planner, jewellery designer (hand sketch), jewellery designer (CAD), wax setter, filer and assembler, metal setter, jewellery polisher and and jewellery retail sales associate.At the event, GJEPC chairperson Kirit Bhansali also announced a special initiative for women ratnakalars under the council’s Ratnakalar Parichay card programme.In its first phase, 1,000 women ratnakalars will receive Parichay cards along with free medical insurance coverage of up to Rs 1 lakh. The coverage will enable beneficiaries to access treatment at leading hospitals.The initiative seeks to recognise the contribution of women artisans while providing them with greater financial and health security. GJEPC has urged eligible women ratnakalars to register for the Parichay card and avail themselves of the benefits.With Unnati combining skill development, employment and social security, Surat’s experiment is now poised to become a wider model for bringing more women into India’s gem and jewellery manufacturing ecosystem.
