A few weeks ago, the members of Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) had announced to donate Rs 50 towards the school fees, as the state diamond industry is facing a huge financial crisis due to the global meltdown.

GJEPC members had contacted presidents of the respective diamond association presidents of Surat, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Navsari and Palanpur to find out the number of children who had not paid their school fees. They have sent forms with information about the students and their father’s profession, present and permanent addresses, school’s name and its phone numbers, to all the associations.

The diamond polishers, meanwhile, were told to make two copies of the forms — one will be submitted to the Surat Diamond Association office, while the other will be sent to the GJEPC office at Opera House in Mumbai. Forms should reach both the offices on or before February 1. Surat Diamond Association president C P Vanani said: “We plan to distribute some more copies of the same form on Monday. We are in contact with the GJEPC office for further correspondence.”