Shri Sanjay Kothari addressing the audience. (seen on the dais) Chief Guest Mr Keki Mistry and Head of Jury Justice (Retd) B. N. Srikrishna and members of the Executive Board of CFBP
The Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation (GJNRF), the apex body coordinating the common social intervention efforts of the gem and jewellery industry in India, was conferred with the Best Charitable Association Puraskar at the prestigious 35th Jamnalal Bajaj Uchit Vyavahar Puraskar organised by Council for Fair Business Practices (CFBP).
The award was received by GJNRF Chairman Shri Sanjay A. Kothari and other Trustees at the hands of Chief Guest Mr. Keki Mistry, Vice Chairman & CEO, HDFC Ltd. and Head of the Jury Panel Former Judge, Supreme Court of India Mr. B. N. Srikrishna in the presence of CFBP Board members and other dignitaries at an award ceremony held at Indian Merchants Chamber Hall in Mumbai on May 16.
The awards are based on a selection process that evaluates an organisation’s performance while also assessing “corporate social responsibility, compliance with laws and adherence to the Code of Conduct of the CFBP”. The final selection is made by a Jury panel.
GJNRF was selected based on its extensive work it has undertaken over the years for relief and rehabilitation of underprivileged and crisis-hit communities and its ethical approach to such philanthropical work.
The Jamnalal Bajaj Awards were instituted in 1966 to honour the efforts made by small, medium and large enterprises to uphold the CFBP’s mission. The citation to GJNRF recognises its “distinguished contribution to the Code of Conduct of the Council”.
Receiving the award on behalf of GJNRF, Shri Kothari said, “GJNRF has been a collective effort of the industry backed by Indian and international trade bodies, individual companies from the sector and other foundations established by industry players. Its successful social interventions have been made possible by the efforts of past Chairmen Shri Praveen Shankar Pandya and Shri Ketan Parikh, as well as by all the members of the Board over the years.”
Shri Kothari added, “Such awards are a recognition of the far-reaching impact GJNRF has had on the lives of many millions all across the country. GJNRF has carried out mega campaigns of support during times of national crises such as the Kargil war, Orissa Mega Cyclone, Kutch Earthquake, Tsunami, Floods and Droughts in different states over the years and again during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many projects have been focused on strengthening health, education and community welfare infrastructure in the affected regions.“
GJNRF has also provided support to the widows of armed forces personnel who lost their lives and to families of victims of terrorist violence. GJNRF has also stood by the diamond industry workers and artisans during times when the industry faced business downturns.
