A Man with Midas Touch – VASANTBHAI HARIBHAI GAJERA
August 2, 2021
Laxmi Diamond – Contribution to Education
Giving a brief of how, now so famous, Laxmi Diamond, bloomed from the scratch in the year 1972, is the leading manufacturer and distributor of polished diamonds across the globe. With an annual turnover of $490 Million, it has been the pillar of innovation and quality for the industry. The manufacturing facilities are located in Surat and Amreli, with their headquarter in Mumbai employing over four thousand valuable human capital. Laxmi Diamond through its manufacturing facilities manufactures 1.7 million carats annually. An appointed sight holder by De Beers since 1995 and has won prestigious awards over the last 4 decades, Laxmi Diamond today stands as a name, one can trust. The exceptional observance of quality controls, manufacturing excellence, products, customer service and marketing strategies have led to a large and growing clientele across Asia, Middle East, US, Europe and India, trusting Laxmi for all their diamond requirements.
Since its inception 46 years ago, Laxmi group has had a long successful and enterprising journey. Envisioning the way forward, the foreseeable future holds enough promise to eclipse an already glorious past. Laxmi Diamond is now poised to enter a superior phase of transformation. Exploring new opportunities, establishing new infrastructure, Laxmi Diamond endeavours traversing the globe to leave diamond studded footprints behind. The core values at Laxmi Diamond, are: Trust, Excellence, Relationship and Sustainability define our actions, beliefs and culture. They have been significant in achieving the success and act as a roadmap to their ultimate goal; i.e. adding value. Laxmi Diamond strictly adheres to the DTC’s Best Practice Principles and the Kimberly Process to ensure that the product is sourced responsibly and is conflict free.
Gajera Trust
To start a story, to make a history, it always starts from ‘nothing’. Born on May 25, 1954, in a middle-class agricultural family in Amreli was Shri Vasantbhai Haribhai Gajera, who contributes to a spellbound journey from finite to infinity with his contributions to the world through this trust. He had always been eager to return to his brethren and community more than what he received. The foundation of Smt. Shantaben Haribhai Gajera Charitable Trust was laid on 15 January 1993 in loving memory of the mother of five brothers. It’s an initiative to create a societal and environmental balance while uplifting the community towards progressive development.
The trust majorly works in 3 sectors: Education, Healthcare and Community Service.
EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
Smt. Shantaben Haribhai Gajera Charitable Trust works for the qualitative development of more than 50,000 students in Gujarat across 18 schools, 7 colleges, 9 campuses and Vatsalyadham- a home for orphans. With a holistic approach towards development of an integrated personality, the schools provide an atmosphere, which gives way to the child’s curiosity and provides opportunities to help them develop their innate talent.
Gajera Trust’s vision is to create well-educated critical thinkers, problem anticipators, and solvers, responsible and compassionate global citizens by providing them with the highest values in education and social well-being. Since the establishment of Gajera schools, the students have competed at national and international levels and made their mark in sports and academics. The outstanding performance of the schools is standing out in the merit lists every year and several coveted trophies in academics, dramatics, music, dance, fine arts, and various indoor and outdoor sports.
The trust work towards progressive growth and aim at sustaining a livelihood for students where they can thrive and flourish to their fullest potential. A well-educated student becomes an epitome of knowledge and spreads value. Gajera Trust and its patrons are educating several students and inspiring millions of souls.
Gajera trust’s contribution in the Education Sector has been significant in educating the aspiring students and have give remarkable and world changing outputs. They have also been successful in bring the kind of change needed for a brighter world by sculpturing many young talents.
1. Smt. Shantaben Haribhai Gajera Shaikshanik Sankul, Amreli
The foundation stone of this Mahila campus was laid on December 25, 1997. This 27-acre campus, a cluster of 10 Gujarati and English Medium Schools; 17 accredited/quality certified Colleges and two distance education centre’s educating more than 9000 girls, was established by Shree Amreli Jilla Leuva Patel Charitable Trust, where Shri Vasantbhai is the President. It is an active example of Shri Vasantbhai’s commitment ensuring that women are empowered and rural sectors are developed. The smile, confidence and outstanding performance in the board/university examinations by the Sankul girls define the identity of this academic campus. The girls, who hail from the remote villages, join Amreli Sankul to become confident, smart, articulate and subsequently they covert themselves and their families into better and responsible citizens and human beings. In the board and university examinations, Amreli Sankul girls outshine those in metros securing the maximum highest positions.
2. Shree Amreli Jilla Vidhyasabha, Amreli
Spread over 105 acres of land, this campus, re-launched in 2010, houses schools and professional colleges catering to the quality education needs of more than 6000 students of the rural populace. With the launch of the second campus in Amreli, Shri Vasantbhai converted Amreli, his birthplace, into ‘An island of Academic and Human Excellence’.
3. Gajera Vidhyabhavan, Katargam, Surat
Started in 1998, this campus located at Katargam area of Surat enlightens the lives of more than 15,000 students through its acclaimed English and Gujarati medium schools. It was the first English medium school that commenced in Katargam area of Surat and the very first year saw more than 500 students passing out. Committed to continuously providing its students with a host of opportunities to pursue academic and personal excellence, the school is highly acclaimed for the quality of its academic process and learning practices.
4. Laxmi Vidyapeeth, Sarigam
Initiated in June 2007 in the tribal region of Valsad district, this 120-acre lush green campus house two schools and seven professional colleges offering quality education to around 5000 students in CBSE, CIE, NIOS, BE, DE, BArch, BBA, MBA, BCA and MCA courses. In a serene environment away from the city, the lush green atmosphere of Laxmi Vidyapeeth provides the students with a system that is a perfect blend of modern techniques and traditional values facilitating the enhancement of their physical, mental, social and spiritual values. The caring, healthy and challenging environment that is lived out in the campus help the students to meet the challenges of life with confidence, imagination and integrity.
More than 600 students belonging to the tribal community study every year in Laxmi Vidyapeeth at Sarigam. The campus makes available government scholarship for them. These graduating students work as the catalyst in changing their families and community at large from ignorance to wisdom and from despair to hope. Today they are aware of and fight for their rights and government schemes.
5. Gajera Global School, Pal, Surat
This CBSE affiliated school was established in April 2014 with advanced learning techniques and has seen learners captivating knowledge from the educators. The School nurtures the learners’ physical, social and emotional persona with extreme sensitivity. The school also introduced CIE curriculum from the academic year 2017-18. The campus provides education to approx. 336 students at present.
6. Gajera Vidhyabhavan, Sachin, Surat
To address the need of quality English and Gujarati medium schools in this belt of Surat, Gajera trust initiated this temple of learning in June 2009. The campus provides education to approx. 741 students at present.
7. Gajera Vidhyabhavan, Utran, Surat
Utran campus, founded by Gajera Trust in 2009, houses English and Gujarati medium schools affiliated to Gujarat Board educating more than 7468 students.
8. Sunita’s Makerspace
Moving with the times, the Gajera trust initiated Sunita’s Makerspace – a place to explore, experiment and implement; a space for tools, projects, mentors and expertise. Launched on April 18, 2015, under the guidance of Ms Kinjal Gajera at Vatsalyadham, Kamrej, Surat, today Sunita’s Makerspace has its dynamic and vibrant branches at Katargam, Utran, Pal and Sarigam, where it enables learners to discover passion in a positive and encouraging environment.
HEALTH INITIATIVES:
1. Shantabaa Hospital and Medical College, Amreli
Smt Shantaben Haribhai Gajera Charitable Trust establishes this medical college at Civil Hospital Campus, Amreli under Public Private Partnership with the government of Gujarat. With the launch of this medical mission at his native place on July 05, 2017, the much-awaited desired dream of Shri Vasantbhai to provide the best medical facilities and education to his brethren has been realized. It has become a dream come true for the people of Amreli and surrounding Talukas thus generously contributing to the human development and wellbeing of that belt.
2. The Trust in association with Laxmi Diamond Group of Companies and other NGOs has been supporting various health initiatives: blood donation drives, mobile medical van (Amreli), eye check-up camps, and food and medicine distribution activities, and support to various hospitals and voluntary organizations, viz., Shree Prannath Sevashram Hospital, Surat; Shubhakari Sitaram Seva Trust, Bhavnagar; Lions Cancer Detection Center Trust, Surat; Surat Raktadan Kendra and Research Centre, Surat; Ayurvedic Arogya Bhavan Trust, Surat, etc.
Mobile Medical Van equipped with latest medical tools and technology helped
17,000 people in 1 year across villages in Amreli, Saurashtra.
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
1. Vatsalyadham, Surat
Shri Vasantbhai’s humanity is truly lived out in this campus, ‘Vatsalyadham’ – a home for the disadvantaged. He extended his hands, embraced the orphans and downtrodden as his own. More than a charity, he considered this project as his responsibility. Today more than 700 boys, girls and elders make this campus as their own.
2. Vatsalya Night School, Surat
Gajera Trust realized the presence of child labour around the areas of Katargam campus. An idea of utilizing the current school infrastructure and resources for the betterment of these kids took form. A free non-formal school – was initiated on February 18, 2015, at Gajera Vidhyabhavan, Surat to provide education to the disadvantaged bright young generation so that they become responsible citizens and purposeful to themselves.
The trust under the leadership of Shri Vasantbhai has been the torchbearers in leading the community through ‘Samuh Lagna’, water preservation initiatives like the creation of Check Dams, AIDS awareness camps, tree plantation projects, and extending support to our martyred soldiers. During natural calamities like earthquake, floods, etc., the trust has been taking leadership in providing medicines, food packets and in organizing relief medical camps, blood donation camps, etc.
Empathizing and Empowering:
• The trust has conducted several widow marriages and ensured that young women settle in their lives again.
• The trust also provides education at less than 50% costs to the children of a widow or single mothers.
Today Shri Vasantbhai has become the Synonym of ‘pro-existence’, the human responsibility very few successful people realize and respond. He is truly ‘an Industrialist with a human face’ and of course, a ‘great Philanthropist’.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIETY
The educational/medical/human ventures boldly initiated by Shri Vasantbhai in the remote and rural areas of Amreli, Sarigam (Umargam Taluka of Valsad district) and Kamrej have made a paradigm shift in the mindset and life of the community. Inferiority has been replaced by confidence and guts; ‘fate’ is replaced by dynamism and determined purpose. This has helped in creating a better society to live in. Child marriages have been drastically reduced and health/hygiene awareness has been enhanced. Blind beliefs are getting corrected. Life became purposeful. Gone are the days where individuals could be purchased for their votes. Gone are the days when they used to get frightened of their departed family members. It is a revolution of heart and life in reality. Without taking a single donation from anyone, Shri Vasantbhai and his brothers have created smiles on the faces of the disadvantaged individuals thus giving them the real purpose to live fully. They say, accomplishments do not arrive to everyone. But when someone aims at the infinity of prosperity, accomplishments do not depart from them. Not just the willingness to make this world a better place, not just the money, it takes an amazing heart and a beautiful soul to make a difference and make lives which is evident through the contributions of Shri Vasantbhai and their trust.