SURAT: Diamond artisans of Surat are not just giving sparkling the rough stones, but are also doing gem of a work in helping critically ill patients get a new lease of life through stem cell donation.
Of the top 10 Gujarat companies, who have encouraged their employees to register as stem cell donors, four Surat diamond firms figure among the first six with as many as 9,389 artisans and other staff voluntarily coming forward as donors.
According to DATRI, India's largest unrelated blood stem cells donors registry, the list includes
Hari Krishna Exports
, Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SKR), Dharmanandan Diamonds and Venus Jewel.
Moreover 42 stem cell donations from these firms have matched with that of needy patients. This too is the highest in Gujarat where 60 donors’ stem cells have matched with patients.
These four companies have an annual turnover in the range of Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 6,000 crore and have a combined workforce roughly 25,000, majority of them being natives of Saurashtra.
Govind Dholakiya, chairman of
SRK Exports
said, “When we had called the first meeting of employees regarding stem cell donation, I remember each and everyone had raised their hands to become donors.”
“Donors whose stem cell matches with patients are offered paid leave and felicitated during the annual function in the presence of the entire staff to recognise their valuable contribution in saving the lives of others,” Dholakiya added.
Hitesh Patel, managing director of Dharmanandan Diamonds, said, “The happiest moment is when stem cell donated by our employee matches with that of the needy patient.
We literally celebrate the occasion with our workers who are given certificates of appreciation in a special function.”
Sevanti Shah, chairman of Venus Jewels added, “Our employees are voluntarily donating their stem cells for critical patients. They are doing it for the sake of humanity and without any expectations.”
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