Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh |A historic gathering of the jewellery trade community took place in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, as the Sarafa Mahasammelan 2026 brought together thousands of jewellers and bullion traders from across the state. Organized by the Chhattisgarh Sarafa Association at Ramdev Lawn in Mangla, the grand convention marked the association’s third general assembly under the theme “Two Remarkable Years, the Third Will Set a New Benchmark.”
The event witnessed the presence of several senior political leaders, including Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Bilha MLA Dharamlal Kaushik, Takhatpur MLA Dharamjeet Singh, Beltara MLA Sushant Shukla, CREDA Chairman Bhupendra Savanni, former MLA Krishna Kumar Bandhi, and other distinguished guests. The program began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony.
Jewellery Park Expansion Receives Major Boost
Addressing the gathering, Chhattisgarh Sarafa Association President Kamal Soni thanked the state government for allocating land for the proposed Gems and Jewellery Park. He urged authorities to speed up the implementation of the project and also demanded the establishment of a Gems and Jewellery Park in Bilaspur to strengthen the region’s jewellery industry.
Responding to the request, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao assured the gathering that the proposal for a Bilaspur Gems and Jewellery Park would be immediately forwarded for further administrative action, signaling strong government support for the initiative.
Demand for Formation of a ‘Swarnakala Board’
One of the key issues raised during the convention was the creation of a Swarnakala (Gold Craft) Board aimed at protecting traditional artisans, preserving goldsmith craftsmanship, and promoting the jewellery trade across the state.
Industry representatives emphasized that such a board would help safeguard skilled artisans while encouraging the growth of the organized jewellery sector.
Government Promises Relief on Legal Issues
The conference also focused on concerns regarding the alleged misuse of Section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), formerly linked to Section 411 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which jewellers say has created operational difficulties for legitimate businesses.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma assured traders that he would hold discussions with the concerned department immediately to explore ways of simplifying the legal framework and ensuring that genuine jewellers are not unnecessarily harassed.
Workshop on BIS Hallmarking and GST
A special technical workshop was conducted during the event by senior officials from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department.
Officials explained the latest hallmarking regulations, GST compliance requirements, and addressed several queries raised by jewellery traders regarding taxation and certification procedures.
Veteran Members Honoured
The association also recognized the contributions of its founding members, former presidents, senior office bearers, and representatives from jewellery associations across various districts of Chhattisgarh. Awards and honors were presented in recognition of their service to the industry.
Union Minister Tokhan Sahu Highlights Development
Union Minister Tokhan Sahu, who joined the closing session despite a busy schedule, praised the leadership of Kamal Soni for successfully uniting jewellers across Chhattisgarh.
He stated that the association’s third year is expected to become even more successful and assured participants that every possible effort would be made to support the development of Bilaspur and its business community.
Voluntary Blood Donation Camp
Alongside the conference, a voluntary blood donation camp was organized in collaboration with Sai Blood and Component Centre. The initiative collected more than 50 units of blood, which will be used to help patients in need.
Successful Organization
The large-scale event was coordinated by the Bilaspur District Sarafa Association under the leadership of President Kalyan Singh, Secretary Deepak Soni, Treasurer Alok Soni, and Executive President Shrikant Pandey.
The state organizing committee, led by President Kamal Soni, along with senior office bearers and volunteers, ensured the smooth management of the convention, which concluded with a vote of thanks and appreciation for all participants.
The Sarafa Mahasammelan 2026 concluded with a strong message of industry unity, government cooperation, and a shared commitment to modernizing Chhattisgarh’s jewellery sector while preserving its rich tradition of craftsmanship.
