BIS launches programme to create awareness about Hallmarking

AMRITSAR: Indian consumer was very often victim of irregular gold quality and the awareness programmes being organized by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) would provide a useful opportunity not only to consumers but also to jewelers to clear their misconception abouthallmarking of gold jewellery, said Alka Panda, Additional Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards in her address at a awareness programme for jewellers organized here on Thursday . 

Panda urged the jewellers to take maximum benefits of BIS Hallmarking scheme in order to create their credibility and provide complete customer satisfaction. She further informed that in order to promote gold hallmarking among consumers and to bring more jewellers under assaying ambit, government of India was giving one time financial incentive of 30% of the cost of machinery and equipments for setting up of Hallmarking and Assaying Centers. 

As on October 31st 2011, there were 8650 operative licenses for gold jewellery and 162 BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centers in India. So far 1180.48 lakh articles had been hallmarked, she informed. KK Narang, Deputy Director General (North), BIS Chandigarh while giving the programme objectives, informed that BIS was organizing lot of awareness programmes in the region for the promotion of hallmarking schemes. 

She informed that there were 688 operative licenses and 11 Hallmarking centers under theNorthern Regional Office of BIS.Anil Kumar Arora, Head, Hallmarking, BIS Headquarters explained about the scheme of Hallmarking of Gold jewellery. He informed the BIS had rationalized the fee structure for jewellers and also simplified the procedure for grant of license.

Courtesy: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com