Team India CSR was in Navsari recently and came across a group of erstwhile gem artists. In a freewheeling discussion with our journalists, the artists narrated how Goldi Solar gave them their new lease of sunshine when clouds of despair and gloom shrouded their lives.
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Few would know that Navsari was the Diamond Hub before Surat. Over the years that sheen faded and Surat owing to its infrastructure and connectivity started dethroning Navsari from that coveted position. The final blow was dealt by the global recession that set in during 2008 and continued over the decade that ensued. Geopolitical challenges and inclement tariffs further exacerbated the already festered situation. The gem artists that once rubbed and sparkled the diamonds lost their jobs and livelihood as the diamond city changed its address from Navsari to Surat. The only option that Navsari Gem Artists were left with was to travel to Surat and back every single day, something that was not tenable in the long run. The traders were no exception, they remained out of business for long durations through the years.
In 2020 when the world came under the shadows of Covid and National Lockdown was imposed, a pall of gloom had descended over these traditional Gem Artists who had nowhere to go and no one to seek help from. It was in such harrowing times that Surat-based Industrialist Capt. Ishwar Dholakia started a new solar manufacturing plant in Navsari at the Mafatlal Mill compound that had been closed and barren for several years.
More than 1000 gem artists were professionally trained for solar panel manufacturing at the ITI in Kharel for free and were soon thereafter absorbed by Goldi Solar at their Vejalpore Plant in Navsari at a remuneration of Rs. 20,000/- per month. Notably ITI de-abbreviated as Industrial Training Institute offers practical, hands-on training and technical knowledge for specific jobs in engineering and non-engineering trades under Directorate General of Training, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.
The erstwhile gem artists and the current solar panel manufacturing workers now have a promising employment prospective within Navsari. They can’t thank Goldi Solar enough for its timely intervention that prevented their hopes from dashing. As gem artists they were in the unorganized sector, unlike at Goldi Solar where they are protected under the benefits of the organized sector, be it nutritious food at the canteen or statutory leaves and compensation. These workers who earlier spent over 3 hours daily commuting to and from Surat, now enjoy decent working conditions in their very own Navsari. They are left with quality time to spend with their family after finishing the work at the factory.
Our team spoke with many workers who changed their trade from gem finishing to solar manufacturing. They happily talked about how their lives turned a new leaf owing to Goldi Solar. Some were able to foot the bills of a growing family while others were able to repay their loans. Not only have direct employment opportunities opened up for the workers but ancillary jobs like catering for the factory, essential supplies have also brought cheer to the people at large in the vicinity.
The beaming smiles of these workers and beneficiaries clubbed with the larger sense of social and financial security that prevails among them prove that the new Sun that now shines bright over Navsari is not just contributing towards environmental sustainability but is also bringing Social Prosperity abound.
(India CSR)
