AHMEDABAD: Joining the nationwide protest over the implementation of Hallmarking Unique ID (HUID) some jewellers across Gujarat will observe a total shutdown on Monday. The nationwide strike call has been announced by the All India Gems and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) against the arbitrary implementation of HUID. Jewellers have cited abysmal delays that are triggered due to the HUID implementation, causing piling up of gold at hallmarking centres in Gujarat and increase in order pendency.
Jigar Soni, president, Jewellers’ Association of Ahmedabad (JAA), said, “The procedure that has been laid out for obtaining hallmarking on jewellery is so cumbersome that the turnaround time for getting a jewellery hallmarked has gone up to a minimum of five to seven days instead of a day. This is causing a massive increase in pendency of jewellery orders and our customers are forced to wait, as a result of which our business is hit.”
Industry estimates suggest that Gujarat is home to thousands of jewellers. Mandatory gold hallmarking came into force from June 16 in a phased manner and the government has identified some 256 districts from 28 states and union territories for the phase-1 implementation.
Around 150 jewellers, who are members of the Vadodara Jewellers Association, will also join the nationwide strike of jewellers on Monday.
“All showrooms and shops of our members will remain closed on Monday as a token strike,” said Atul Shah, president of Vadodara Jewellers Association. Shah said that it is a myth that jewellers are opposing purity.
“We are for purity and we welcome hallmarking. But we are against the wrong implementation of HUID as it will put at risk security of customers. If customers HUID gets hacked, any person can know that who purchased jewellery from a particular store which will put life of the customer at risk and there will be no safety of the jewellery,” he said.
Jewellers from Surat and state are protesting the recent modification related to Hallmarking on Monday. “Up to Hallmarking we have no issues but other related mandatory requirements are unnecessary. We have made representation in the past as well," said Nainesh Pachchigar, chairman, Gujarat advisory board in Indian Bullion Jewellers Association.
