The Gems & Jewellery National Relief Foundation (GJNRF), a charitable body founded by the gem and jewellery industry in 1999, and supported by stakeholders across India, unveiled its website at a press event held in Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), Mumbai, on March 29.

The website (gjnrf.org) was inaugurated jointly by Sriram Natarajan, Managing Director of GIA India, and Anoop Mehta, President, BDB, in the presence of GJNRF Chairman Sanjay Kothari, and past Chairmen Bakul Mehta and Praveenshankar Pandya.

Bakul Mehta stated that it was imperative, yet challenging, to develop a website to create awareness about the innumerable charitable acts and relief measures carried out by GJNRF in the past 23 years.

Sanjay Kothari added that the need to develop the website was keenly felt during the pandemic when GJNRF was actively involved in providing Covid-relief measures. “When we approached donors for help in organising ambulances, medicines, and more, they wanted to know more about the Foundation through our website, which of course we didn’t have. That’s when the idea germinated and we decided to chronicle all the charitable works on the website to reach a bigger audience.”

He added that the website provides an idea of the extent of work that has been done by the Foundation over the years, and expressed gratitude to those who had selflessly contributed time and energy to achieve this. “Thanks to their efforts, the Foundation has been able to support projects worth over Rs.80 crore ($10.5 million), spread across more than 10 states and respond to various national crises including earthquakes, floods, cyclones, aid victims of wars and terrorist activity, and also support the workforce in difficult times,” Kothari elaborated.

Anoop Mehta said that besides history and documentation of all the relief work and charitable activities, the website will also keep updating information on various welfare activities. He added that the industry has always put its best foot forward to help communities impacted by natural disasters and to respond on other social issues.

Natarajan lauded the selfless acts of the gem and jewellery industry in his concluding remarks. “GJNRF has been reaching out to the right people, and that’s the value addition that GJNRF offers. GIA is happy to be one of their supporting partners. We really appreciate that in every GJNRF project, there has been direct involvement of senior members, right down to the grassroots level. Such personal commitment to the causes they espouse is really praiseworthy,” he added.