Over 1,200 employees of diamond manufacturer-exporter Harikrishna Exports were awarded mega gifts in the form of cars, flats and jewellery under the company’s loyalty and performance incentive scheme at a special function organised at Surat on Sunday. The gifts were distributed by Chairman Savji Dholakia and Mayor of Surat Niranjan Zanzmera in the presence of well-known personalities from the city such as Jagdish Patel, corporator, Dr Kirtibhai Patel, Kanjibhai Bhalala and others.

The scheme was launched about five years ago and the number of employees who have qualified for the award has been steadily rising. Under the performance-based incentive scheme a person can earn between 5-35% depending on the achievement of targets and value-addition. A senior official of the company said that while they gave away three cars in the first year, the numbers rose to 30, 50 and subsequently almost 100 last year. He explained that the employees are given targets and assessed on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, with those who have consistently attained their targets qualifying for the year end mega gift. The scheme has helped reduce employee attrition as well. 

This year over 1,200 of Harikrishna’s nearly 8,000 employees were eligible for the bonanza. Of them, 491 employees received new Fiat Punto cars, 570 got jewellery and around 207 were given a flat.

The company’s turnover has crossed Rs 6,000 crore and about Rs 50 crore has been reportedly earmarked for the incentive scheme.

Chairman Savji Dholakia explained that the company believes that artisans are the backbone of the industry and that Harikrishna had decided to set an example by giving them high wages and mega-gifts. “The artisans and engineers who have achieved their targets have been rewarded,” he added.