A Helping Hand: An Effort to Boost Inclusivity in the Industry

Mumbai—The seventh convocation ceremony at the Jewellery Occupational Skilling Hub (JOSH), an industry-supported training center for youth, held June 27, 2024, will always be an important milestone for the gem and jewelry industry in India.

This was the day when certificates were distributed to the first group of people with disabilities trained at JOSH, a program made possible through the support of one of the country’s largest jewelry manufacturers and exporters, Jewelex India.

A Turning Point
Since that day last June, four additional groups of trainees with disabilities have completed courses at the JOSH academy and all of them have been successfully onboarded at Jewelex.

A sixth group is currently undergoing training at the center.

“June 2024 was a very special inflexion point for an inclusion program aimed at empowering persons with disabilities that we began very long ago,” Jewelex Director Ashish “Bobby” Kothari said, adding, “The batch who graduated from JOSH was the first group of formally trained and certified differently abled persons whom we welcomed into our fold.”

Jewelex has long been a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), building a workforce with representation from varied segments of society.

Women comprise 43 percent of the company’s workforce , including four at the C-suite level, and the company has undertaken many DEI programs, including some strategic initiatives to support people with disabilities.

The latter goes back to 2006, when the first few were recruited into the workforce.

All About Empowerment
What started with a handful of recruits has today grown into a thriving community of 110 employees with disabilities, nearly 3 percent of Jewelex’s workforce.

“Our aim was never charity, but empowerment,” said Dr. Samta Jain, chief people officer at Jewelex.

“Each employee brings unmatched focus and loyalty, qualities that elevate not just our productivity, but also our culture of care and inclusion. Our vision is to bring them into the mainstream and the results reinforce our belief that talent knows no barriers.”

Since 2023, the company has reached out to over 700 people with disabilities through job fairs, non-governmental organizations, and institutions, selecting candidates for training at JOSH.

Initially, there were many challenges in motivating candidates to persist, and there were more than a few dropouts.

But today, most people with disabilities who train at JOSH are integrated into Jewelex’s filing, polishing, and micro-setting departments, contributing directly to the company’s production.

A Culture of Caring
A key ingredient of success has been the comprehensive approach to integration.

Jewelex has introduced sign language interpreters, developed training videos with picture-in-picture sign language translation, adapted both the training and work environment for greater accessibility, and curated programs for behavioural and soft-skills training to aid seamless assimilation.

Conducting peer sensitization workshops also have helped colleagues understand the needs of people with disabilities, while special apprenticeships and seating arrangements help them adjust during the first three months.

“When you walk into our manufacturing units today, you don’t see labels, you see colleagues working together with pride. That is the kind of culture we are proud of,” Jain said.

Leaders at JOSH and the Gem and Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI) highlight the crucial role Jewelex played in developing the project and creating the entire support ecosystem.

GJSCI CEO Rajeev Garg pointed out that Jewelex has sponsored additional equipment at JOSH, interpreter services, and the development of 48 specialized training modules and assessments for learning.

“They made it possible for the students [with disabilities] to attend lectures alongside others by designing training videos with picture-in-picture sign language support and providing interpreters who remain present daily to aid communication between trainers and students,” Garg said.

Sanjay Varma, who oversees admissions at JOSH, added that Jewelex and its HR team manage the entire onboarding process for candidates with disabilities, ensuring documentation and special requirements are addressed.

Students also receive a regular stipend, supplemented by additional contributions from Jewelex, to meet their unique needs.

A People-First Approach
Beyond recruitment, Jewelex continues to support employees with disabilities through motivational talks, NGO partnerships, and financial support for medical consultations and treatments. 

Sensitization programs for security staff, housekeeping teams, and HR ensure inclusion is embedded across every layer of the company. 

The organization also extends its social initiatives to other fields such as education, environment, and health through partnerships with various NGOs across different parts of India. 

“The establishment of JOSH has provided a major boost to our efforts, and we are committed to increasing the recruitment and training of [people with disabilities] in our company,” Kothari said. 

His words are echoed by fellow Jewelex Director Nilesh Kothari, who said, “Even as we join the jewelry sector in embracing digital transformation and global competitiveness, Jewelex continues to nurture its greatest asset, its people, who come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, talents and abilities.”