The CSR wing of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council Of India (GJEPC) - namely the Gem and Jewellery National Relief Foundation, organised a tribute for victims of the gem and jewellery industry affected Mumbai bomb blasts that occurred on 13 July 2011 and rocked the city’s gem and jewellery hubs.

The Gem and Jewellery National Relief Foundation gave cheques worth a total of Rs.50 lakhs to the victims and the kin of the deceased in the bomb blast of Opera House. The cheques were handed over by Honourble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Prithviraj Chavan. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Praveen Shankar Pandya , Chairman GJNFR, said “Mumbai is the national gateway for all industries flowing into India and is also the hub of the diamond industry. Seeing the national importance of Mumbai, the bomb blasts happened in Mumbai and precious lives were lost. The damage and the destruction that the bomb blasts caused is irreparable and irreplaceable, however this is our humble attempt at aiding the families and the people who suffered in the bomb blasts.”

The foundation handed out a sum of Rs. One lakh to the families of the deceased, a sum of Rs. 50,000 to each who was physically impaired and a sum of Rs. 25,000 to each of those who were minorly injured as a result of the bomb blast. The proceeds were given out to 41 beneficiaries.

Speaking on the association Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra said “Mumbai by virtue of being the national capital has been attacked many times with the hope of disrupting peace and harmony in the country. A lot of precious lives were lost and the Gem and Jewellery National Relief foundation is contributing to aid the families of the deceased and the individuals injured. Though this does not make up for the loss suffered , but I want to inform the citizens of the city that the government has taken many steps to beef up the security and ensure that such dastardly acts are not repeated or thwarted in the nip.”

Previous to this, the foundation had donated a sum of 6.72 lakhs to all the families of the victims of the Mumbai Bomb blasts affected.