The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has launched UNNATI – Powering Women in Gems & Jewellery, a national initiative aimed at increasing women’s participation, leadership and entrepreneurship across India’s gem and jewellery value chain. The programme was launched in Surat in the presence of Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia.
The initiative comes as the Indian gem and jewellery industry targets US$100 billion in exports by 2040. GJEPC has positioned UNNATI as an industry-development programme focused on building skills and leadership, rather than as a welfare initiative.
More than 1,100 women, including industry participants, homemakers and students, attended the Surat launch. In its first phase, the programme aims to register at least 200 women for skill-development courses covering specialised roles across manufacturing, design and retail.
UNNATI is structured around five pillars: Inspire & Engage; Develop & Empower; Connect & Collaborate; Enable & Accelerate; and Transform & Lead. The programme includes training pathways for roles such as diamond assorter, diamond polisher, diamond planner, jewellery designer, CAD designer, wax setter, metal setter, jewellery polisher and retail sales associate.
GJEPC has also announced a separate initiative for women Ratnakalars, with 1,000 women to receive Ratnakalar Parichay Cards along with free medical insurance coverage of up to Rs 1 lakh in the first phase. Press Release - GJEPC Launches …
The inaugural UNNATI Awards recognised companies and women across areas including workforce participation, career advancement, skilling, work-life support and leadership. Women achievers from entrepreneurship, jewellery design, retail, artisan roles, marketing and emerging leadership were also recognised.
GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali said increasing women’s participation and leadership would be important to achieving the industry’s export ambitions, while Gujarat Regional Chairman Jayantibhai Savaliya highlighted the need to create pathways for women to upskill, enter leadership positions and contribute across the industry’s value chain.
The Surat launch is planned as the starting point for a wider national rollout, with GJEPC intending to take UNNATI to major jewellery clusters across India.
