Suresh Prabhu, Hon. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, launched the Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery sector, at a glittering function in the presence of Smt. Rupa Dutta, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Pramod Kumar Agrawal (Convener, National Ad- Hoc Committee, Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery and Chairman - Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council) and all the 14 representatives of the Ad-hoc committee. Hon. Minister announced that the Domestic Council will be operational with elected representatives by 1 st May 2019 (Labour Day and Maharashtra Day).

Present on the occasion were: Shri Sanjay Kaka Patil (MP), Smt. Rupa Dutta (Economic Adviser, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry), Shri Senthil Nathan (Dy. Secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry), Shri Anantha Padmanaban (Chairman, All India Gems & Jewellery Domestic Council), Shri Dulichand Karel, (Chairman-Bhartiya Swarnkar Sangh, Jaipur), Shri Mohit Bharatiya (IBJA) and Shri Rajesh Khosla (Chairman-Association of Gold Refineries and Mints, Cochin).

For the formation of the Domestic Council for the Gems and Jewellery sector, an AD-HOC committee has been formulated comprising of representatives of following associations:  All India Gems & Jewellery Domestic Council, Mumbai;  Association of Gold Refineries and Mints (AGRM), Cochin;  Bangiya Swarna Shilpi Samiti, Kolkata; Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), Mumbai; Bhartiya Swarnkar Sangh, Jaipur; Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), Mumbai; Imitation Jewellery Manufacturers Association (IJMA), Mumbai; India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), Mumbai; India Jewellers Forum (IJF), Amristar; Karnataka Jewellers Federation, Bangalore; Odisha Jewellers Association, Cuttack; Rajkot Gems & Jewellery Association, Rajkot; Tamil Nadu Jewellers Federation (TNJF), Chennai; Uttar Pradesh Sarafa Association, Kanpur.

Suresh Prabhu said, “Today is a historic day as a new chapter opens in India’s 5,000 year old legacy in gems & jewellery. The launch of the Domestic Council for gems & jewellery is a significant step and one amongst a series of several structured reforms undertaken by our Government to make the industry more organised and unified. We have followed a democratic process and given representation to the key jeweller, manufacturers, miners and artisan/ craftsmen Associations from different geographies and industry segments. The Domestic Council will represent the culture and ethos of India’s gems, gold & jewellery business while addressing global market opportunities to create economic value for the country. The Government will create and facilitate and leave it to the industry to take it forward.”     

    Pramod Kumar Agrawal (Convener, Ad-Hoc Committee, Domestic Council and Chairman - GJEPC), said, “We welcome the Government’s decision to form Domestic Council for the Indian gems & jewellery sector. This will help to organise our unorganised and small scale based domestic jewellery industry and help it to scale new heights. As envisaged by the Union Minister, my efforts as the Convener will be to seek consensus in opinion to make this Domestic Council a national body which belongs to all and works to fulfil the aspirations of all small and big associations from across the country. GJEPC is happy to offer all support and guidance in the formation of an inclusive, democratic and self-sustainable Council. It is important for the industry to have one voice one body. Domestic Council will help create 3 million more jobs and new artisans/ craftsmen in the business.”

Incidentally, the idea of a Domestic Council for gems & jewellery first came into being way back in 2005-06 that the Sivaraman Committee was constituted to study the entire gem & jewellery sector and submitted its report to the Union Finance Ministry. The responsibility was eventually given to Union Commerce & Industry Ministry and then the DIPP. In 2017, Prime Minister said that gems & jewellery was a good example of Make in India and wanted jewellers to come up with a strategy for increasing India's share of the hand-made jewellery market in a global market. In February 2018, the Niti Aayog panel, in its report on the need for a comprehensive gold policy, had also proposed setting up of dedicated domestic council for the gems & jewellery sector.

Finally, the Council has been launched. The task ahead comprises of framing the constitution of the Domestic Council as well as its Election Rules and other activities. GJEPC would offer all the secretarial support in this regard for the incorporation of the Council. All the drafting of the constitutional documents as well as the Election Rules of the Domestic Council would be completed shortly. The core Committee comprises the following members: Chairman-Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council; Chairman-All India Gems & Jewellery Domestic Council; Chairman-Indian Bullion and Jewellers’ Association Ltd.; Chairman-Bhartiya Swarnkar Sangh, Jaipur; and Chairman- Association of Gold Refineries and Mints, Cochin.

The Domestic Council is an inclusive body and would move ahead with the support of all members of this fraternity.