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RAPAPORT... Nearly 20,000 skilled artisans from Surat are preparing to take written and theoretical exams in pursuit of a new professional certificate that was developed by the Gems & Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI) and the Surat Diamond Association (SDA). Once these professionals are certified, Dinesh Navadia, SDA's president, said that the artisans will be eligible to apply for international working assignments. “The artisans from India have never had an opportunity, or official proof of their skills. With this certification, we aim to provide them with the necessary evidence of their experience and expertise, which shall be helpful to them in seeking international work. They shall be eligible to apply for an overseas job once they have their certificate in place,” Navadia explained. The certification program, which is in its trial phase, requires three years of work experience and it is designed to train the artisans on par with international standards. Prem Kothari, the chairman of GJSCI, said that the project is in “recognition of prior learning" (RPL) and that this first round of artisans hails from the diamond-cutting and polishing sector. Similar agreements are in the works with the Minority Commission of India and IIGJ-Jaipur to train, assess and certify artisans to develop a highly skilled pool of manpower, Kothari stated. The GJSCI signed an agreement with the Government of West Bengal on January 8 to certify 50,000 artisans from that state under RPL. The certification is expected to boost worker morale and further legitimize their art as a major contribution to the growth of the diamond and jewelry industry. Efforts are also in the works by GJSCI, with the help of the government, to align this certificate with university standards in India so it is the equivalent of passing Grade 10.
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