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Selected entrepreneurs will be given a one-time financial incentive of 15 per cent of the cost of the machinery.

Mangalore , Feb 10

THE Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which introduced hallmarking scheme for jewellery in 2000, will grant recognition to 35 hallmarking centres within a year.

Under the scheme, BIS has granted recognition to 34 hallmarking centres in the country in the last five years.

Speaking to newspersons on Friday, Mr Y.P. Singh, Additional Director-General, BIS, said that the Government has introduced a scheme for creating infrastructure for assaying and hallmarking of gold jewellery in 35 select districts. Under this, selected entrepreneurs will be given a one-time financial incentive of 15 per cent of the cost of the machinery, subject to a maximum of Rs 15 lakh to a hallmarking centre. Thirty-four hallmarking centres in the country have issued 1,112 licences to jewellers in the country till the end of January 31. Nearly 95 lakh articles have been hallmarked till that date, he said.

Mandatory from 2008

He said that hallmarking of gold jewellery would become mandatory for all jewellers from January 1, 2008. Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the precious metal in gold. It indicates the purity of jewellery, he said.

To make hallmarking scheme more attractive and affordable, BIS has taken various initiatives. BIS has rationalised the certification fees for jewellers. Earlier, it was Rs 25,800 a year. Now, three slabs have been introduced. The certification fee is Rs 25,000 for three years for jewellers in four metropolitan cities and Rs 20,000 for three years for jewellers located in district headquarters. For jewellers located in other areas, the fee is Rs 10,000 for three years.

Earlier in the day, Mr Singh addressed an awareness programme on hallmarking of jewellery. Many people from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

More Stories on : Standards & Benchmarks | Gems & Jewellery | Karnataka

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