The Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has donated Rs.1.8 crores as assistance for the education of 36,000 children of diamond industry workers in Gujarat. The funds will be directly deposited with schools and will be used for paying school fees for the academic years 2009-10. Around 1309 schools across Gujarat will gain to benefit from this initiative, including 540 schools in Ahmedabad, 70 schools in Amreli, 167 schools in Bhavnagar, 80 schools in Navsari, 92 schools in Palanpur, 140 schools in Surat and 220 in Surendranagar. %% Explaining the motive behind the initiative, Mr. Pravinshankar Pandya, Chairman, Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation, said, “The recent economic turmoil has reduced export orders to less than half since September last year, rendering several diamond industry workers jobless. The industry has voluntarily come forward in a bid to alleviate the suffering of those affected, and wants to save the school year of their children. We further wish to work towards a subsidised food distribution programme, and would like the State Government to help us implement this”. %% “Diamond workers are nurtured and cultivated by the industry over decades. They help the industry maintain its leadership position in the world markets. It is essential to continue with relief measures over the next six months,” he added.