INTERVIEWS
As part of our 20 Stories of Impact series, we’re speaking with RJC members, stakeholders, and pioneers who’ve shaped our journey over the past two decades, exploring sustainability, industry trends, the future of jewellery, and more. Savji Dholakia is the founder and chairman of Hari Krishna Exports, a diamond manufacturing and exporting company.
One of the earliest moments that made Hari Krishna Exports value our RJC membership was going through the certification process. It helped us assess our systems not just for compliance, but to ensure they align with ethics, transparency, and accountability.
As a company that sources over 80 per cent of our rough diamonds directly from major mining companies, RJC’s standards validate our sourcing practices. We follow the same principle while purchasing gold. If a supplier is not RJC-certified, we do not proceed. Today, customers also ask whether our products meet RJC standards, showing how expectations across the supply chain have changed.
The value of our RJC membership became even clearer during the pandemic. While many businesses paused their operations, we continued to invest in solar power at HK Hub and our manufacturing unit and sustained our community and environmental programs through the philanthropic arm of Hari Krishna Exports, Dholakia Foundation. We also supported employees in need, provided free medical services, and distributed food kits to ensure their well-being during that difficult time.
RJC has helped us stay ahead as the industry has evolved toward ethics, traceability, and sustainability. From our Fair and Fixed Price Policy and global presence in over 100 countries to our alignment with all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, our approach has remained consistent. RJC also offers a valuable co-learning platform where members share best practices, which helps us improve continuously.
Responsible business is not a one-time achievement. Our RJC membership keeps us aligned with global standards and focused on long-term value.
Through our RJC membership, we aim to strengthen responsible practices across our entire value chain.
Every stage from sourcing to sales is built on fairness, traceability, and respect for human rights.
Sustainability is a priority. Our HK Hub and manufacturing unit is fully powered by solar energy, and we are working toward making our operations carbon-neutral. As a member of 1t.org, we have pledged to plant 10 million trees by 2030 through our Mission102030 initiative. So far, we have planted 3.7 million trees and developed or rejuvenated around 166 water bodies, helping offset carbon emissions and improve ecosystems.
These efforts are tracked through clear metrics, including CO2 reduction, biodiversity improvement, soil health, and stakeholder engagement. Our work contributes to India’s national carbon sink goals and supports adaptation in climate-affected areas.
Social responsibility is embedded through the Dholakia Foundation. We support rural livelihoods, promote water security, and involve local communities directly in restoration work.
We also collaborate across the industry by sharing our practices in traceability, fair pricing, and ESG integration. RJC gives us a platform to engage with like-minded companies and help raise industry standards.
The gems and jewellery industry has evolved significantly after the implementation of RJC. The shift is visible through a compliance lens, with companies aligning their practices to responsible sourcing, ethical conduct, and environmental accountability.
At Hari Krishna Exports, we have been early adapters of these values. Our HK Hub and manufacturing unit operates entirely on solar energy, reducing our carbon footprint.
We were among the first in the industry to implement traceability, launching My Diamond Story in 2011. Since then, we have participated in nearly every credible traceability program available to consumers. These include iTraceiT, Tracr, CanadaMark, Everledger, and more. Each platform enables end-users to verify the diamond’s journey from mine to market, thereby reinforcing transparency throughout the supply chain.
Our jewellery brand, Kisna, plays a key role in taking these values to end consumers. Kisna was born in 2005 out of a desire to make fine jewellery meaningful and accessible. It was launched with the belief that jewellery should be in every Indian household, led by our #HarGharKisna campaign. Every piece is designed with care, crafted with heritage, and meant to celebrate personal milestones. Today, Kisna connects with families through 100 Stores across India, combining affordability with emotional value.
Through Kisna, we also extend our impact. We feed one person in need and plant one tree for every piece of jewellery sold. We plant a tree for every customer who visits our booth at trade shows. Each time a new Kisna franchise opens, we organise free eye check-ups, blood donation camps, and community health programs.
Looking ahead, we believe the industry will continue to move toward complete transparency, stricter global standards, and deeper collaboration across supply chains. Brands that demonstrate measurable action and responsible leadership will define the next phase of growth.
The Dholakia Foundation reflects our belief that business must serve both people and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to preserve the environment and empower communities through water conservation, large-scale afforestation, and sustainable development.
Since its inception in 1996, the Foundation has planted over 3.7 million trees and developed or rejuvenated around 166 water bodies across India. These projects have improved irrigation, supported biodiversity, and enhanced the lives of over 300,000 farmers and families. A proud milestone was the inauguration of Bharat Mata Sarovar by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, in October 2024, recognising it as a national symbol of water conservation and ecosystem revival.
Key initiatives include Mission River, which focuses on reviving rivers and lakes in drought-prone regions, and Mission 102030, which aims to plant 10 million trees by 2030 to restore green cover, sequester carbon, and combat deforestation.
Beyond environmental work, the Foundation supports a range of community welfare programs. These include scholarships for underprivileged students, women’s empowerment initiatives that promote skill development and safety and mass weddings for employees.
We are proud that our work contributes meaningfully to all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The recognition of our founder, Shri Savji Dholakia, with the Padma Shri award in 2022, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, further affirms the impact of our long-term philanthropic mission.
The Dholakia Foundation drives Hari Krishna Exports’ sustainability and community development work. To date, we have planted over 3.7 million trees and rejuvenated 166 lakes.
The foundation is committed to scaling its work on ecosystem restoration and the vision of Mission River is to create a water-secure future by restoring rivers to their natural flow, reviving ecosystems, and improving rural livelihoods. Its core goals include:
Making the most of the global tree-growing movement, the Dholakia Foundation propels a promising initiative to grow 10 million trees by the year 2030 to offset the environmental challenges posed by deforestation and carbon emissions. Through innovative strategies and wide-ranging participation, Mission 102030 aims to expand the world’s canopies, rejuvenate ecosystems, sequester carbon and create a lasting impact on the global environment.
All our interventions and initiatives are aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, directly addressing key areas such as clean water, climate action, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, economic and inclusive growth.
These targeted actions strengthen supply chain sustainability, improve climate resilience, and contribute to building a responsible, future-ready jewellery industry.
