Diamond merchant donates Rs 50cr chopper for medical emergencies in Surat

 

Ahmedabad: The 59-year-old diamond merchant from Surat who has grabbed headlines in the past for the huge bonus and lavish gifts he doles out to his employees every year has now donated a brand new chopper, worth Rs 50 crore for medical and other emergencies in Surat.

The chopper was a surprise gift for Sajiv Dholakia by his family after he was conferred the Padma Shri award recently for his contribution in the field of social work. Dholakia has so far built nearly 75 ponds on barren government land in Saurashtra.

On the surprise gift from his family, Dholakia said that he was pleasantly surprised. As he could not refuse the gift from his family he decided to donate it for the social cause.

“Surat is the economic capital of Gujarat but does not have its own chopper. Thus, I am dedicating this gift to the people of Surat and for the social cause,” Dholakia was quoted saying in a TNIE report

A school drop-out Dholakia had arrived in Surat in the year 1977 on a state transport bus with just Rs 12.5 in his pocket as ticket fare where he started working at his uncle’s diamond business. In 1992, he laid the foundation of his company and has now become one of the influential men in the diamond industry and Surat city.

It may be recalled that Dholakia had gifted three staff members with Mercedes-Benz GLS SUVs on completing 25 years at the company. Every year during festive occasions he gives lavish gifts to his employees, which includes cars, flats, jewelry sets, etc. as a part of the loyalty bonus program.