Knowledge Series – Chapter 2: Understanding the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
Organized by South Gujarat Productivity Council (SGPC)

After the success of Chapter 1, the South Gujarat Productivity Council (SGPC) continued its impactful journey of professional learning with Chapter 2 of the Knowledge Series, focused on an essential social security legislation: the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The session was held with the aim of enhancing awareness and compliance among HR professionals, employers, and business leaders regarding gratuity provisions.

📘 Topic in Focus: Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972

The Act mandates gratuity payments to employees who have rendered continuous service for five years or more, as a token of appreciation for their long-term contribution to an organization. The seminar explored the Act’s key provisions, calculation methods, recent amendments, employer obligations, and case-based scenarios.

🎤 Distinguished Experts:

1. Shri Nimish Patel
   Past President – SGPC
   President – The Labour Law Practitioner Association, Surat
   Shri Patel brought deep legal insight and years of practical experience, breaking down the nuances of the Act with clarity. His address highlighted employer responsibilities, compliance do’s and don’ts, and strategic HR practices to manage gratuity obligations.

2. Shri S. S. Dubey
   Assistant Commissioner of Labour, Surat Region
   Shri Dubey enriched the discussion with a government regulatory perspective. He explained procedures for filing claims, resolving disputes, and ensuring fair treatment of employees. He also touched upon recent policy trends and the department’s approach to enforcement.

🧠 Session Highlights:

• Eligibility and service conditions for gratuity

• Calculation methods and tax exemptions

• Employer obligations and penalties for non-compliance

• Case laws and real-life dispute resolution examples

• Interactive Q&A addressing practical workplace scenarios

The session was designed to be simple, practical, and legally sound, enabling participants to walk away with immediately applicable knowledge.

👥 Participants:

The event drew attendance from:

• HR professionals and compliance officers

• Factory and business owners

• Legal advisors

• Industrial relations consultants

The interactive nature of the session encouraged participants to raise real-world queries, many of which were resolved on the spot by the experts.

✅ Key Takeaways:

• Gratuity is a statutory right, not an optional benefit

• Employers must maintain proper records and ensure timely payments

• Legal non-compliance can lead to penalties and reputational risk

• Understanding the law helps create fair and respectful workplaces

🎯 Conclusion: A Step Toward Labour Law Excellence

Chapter 2 of the SGPC Knowledge Series further solidified the Council’s role as a thought leader in promoting labour law literacy and industry best practices. With valuable insights from both legal and government perspectives, the session empowered professionals to handle gratuity-related responsibilities more confidently and correctly.

📌 Stay connected with SGPC for more such knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Marking a New Chapter of Leadership and Vision

In a momentous and dignified gathering, the Installation Ceremony of the new President Mr. Nirav Rana along with the office bearers for the year 2024–25 was held with great enthusiasm and pride. The event marked the formal transfer of leadership responsibilities and set the tone for a dynamic year ahead, filled with renewed purpose and commitment to organizational goals.

🎉 Welcoming the New Leadership

Mr. Nirav Rana, a respected professional known for his dedication, leadership, and visionary thinking, was officially installed as the President for the term 2024–25. His acceptance speech reflected clarity of purpose, inclusiveness, and a strong vision to drive growth, innovation, and community engagement.

The new team of office bearers, composed of passionate and result-driven individuals, also took oath alongside Mr. Rana, promising to uphold the values and objectives of the organization with integrity and zeal.

Spreading Cyber Crime Awareness During Ganesh Utsav
With International Cyber Crime Expert & Lawyer – Dr. Snehal Vakilna

In a unique and impactful initiative, public awareness on cyber crime was taken to the heart of community gatherings—Ganesh Pandals—where thousands of people unite in devotion and celebration. This special outreach program featured Dr. Snehal Vakilna, a globally recognized Cyber Crime Expert and Legal Consultant, who took the lead in educating the masses about cyber safety in simple and relatable terms.

🛡️ Cyber Safety with Devotion: A Thoughtful Approach

With the festive spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi filling the air, this campaign turned pandals into platforms of learning and awareness. Rather than a conventional seminar or workshop, this on-ground interaction brought the message directly to the people—where they gathered with faith and community spirit.

The initiative aimed to:

• Educate individuals and families about common cyber frauds

• Demonstrate real-life examples of digital scams

• Share easy-to-follow tips to stay safe online

• Break myths around social media security and digital privacy

👤 Dr. Snehal Vakilna’s Approach

Known for his practical insights and legal expertise, Dr. Snehal Vakilna connected with people from all walks of life—students, senior citizens, homemakers, shopkeepers, and youth.

He addressed crucial points including:

• How not to fall prey to OTP scams, phishing links, and fake job offers

• Why you should never share personal details on unknown calls

• The importance of two-factor authentication and strong passwords

• How to use legal channels to report and fight cyber crime

What stood out was Dr. Vakilna’s ability to explain complex cyber security issues in simple, real-world language—ensuring that even non-technical listeners could understand and implement safety practices immediately.

📍 Ganesh Pandal Visits: Community Impact

This outreach campaign covered multiple Ganesh Pandals across the city, where crowds were both curious and engaged. The interactive format sparked live discussions, and many attendees even shared their personal experiences of cyber fraud, seeking guidance and solutions on the spot.

✅ Key Takeaways for the Public:

• Don’t share your OTP or UPI PIN with anyone—even if they claim to be from a bank.

• Verify links and websites before clicking or entering sensitive information.

• Install antivirus and security software on your devices.

• Report any suspicious activity immediately to the Cyber Crime Portal – www.cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.

🙌 Conclusion: Devotion Meets Awareness

This innovative effort by Dr. Snehal Vakilna and the organizing team beautifully merged public service with cultural celebration, reminding everyone that while we seek blessings from Lord Ganesha to remove obstacles, we must also take practical steps to protect ourselves from the growing threat of cyber crime.

Let’s keep our digital lives as safe as our homes.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, financial fraud and cybercrime are on the rise—threatening individuals, businesses, and institutions alike. Recognizing the need for greater awareness and preventive action, a focused seminar titled “Jamtara Financial Fraud” was organized on 21st September 2024 at Samruddhi Bhavan, Nanpura.

This impactful session was aimed at spreading awareness about the evolving landscape of cyber threats and how to protect oneself from financial fraud in both personal and professional environments.

🛡️ Seminar Highlights:

The seminar addressed a broad range of cybercrime topics, with a special focus on:

• Online financial fraud and digital scams

• Phishing, vishing, and identity theft

• Cyber hygiene practices for safe digital banking

• Use of technology for detecting and reporting fraud

• Legal provisions and redressal mechanisms

Experts shed light on how seemingly minor oversights—such as clicking unknown links, sharing OTPs, or accessing unsecured Wi-Fi networks—can lead to major financial losses.

🎤 Expert Insights:

The session featured knowledgeable speakers from cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity backgrounds who presented:

• Real case studies of financial fraud in Gujarat and beyond

• Demonstrations of how fraudsters operate using social engineering

• Step-by-step guidance on recognizing and responding to suspicious activity

Their simple yet powerful communication helped demystify technical jargon and empowered the audience with actionable tips to stay safe online.

👥 Audience Engagement:

The seminar witnessed participation from:

• Senior citizens

• College students

• Business professionals

• Bank employees

• Homemakers and general public

The interactive Q&A session at the end allowed attendees to share their experiences and clarify doubts related to cybersecurity and financial safety.

✅ Key Takeaways:

• Never share OTPs, passwords, or personal banking details over calls or messages.

• Use multi-factor authentication for all digital accounts.

• Regularly update passwords and check account activity.

• Report cybercrime immediately at www.cybercrime.gov.in or via the 1930 helpline.

🙌 Conclusion:

The “Amtara Financial Fraud” seminar was an eye-opener for many and emphasized the urgent need for cyber awareness in today’s digitally dependent age. With more financial transactions moving online, it is crucial that individuals and businesses stay informed, alert, and proactive.

The organizers expressed their commitment to conducting more such sessions in the future to create a cyber-resilient community.

📌 Stay alert. Stay aware. Stay protected.
For more updates on awareness seminars and events, follow us or get in touch with the organizing team.

Knowledge Series Chapter 1: In-Depth Understanding of Key Labour Welfare Acts
Hosted by South Gujarat Productivity Council (SGPC)

The South Gujarat Productivity Council (SGPC) kickstarted its highly anticipated Knowledge Series with Chapter 1, an insightful program focused on building awareness and understanding of foundational labour welfare legislations in India. The session, held recently, was a valuable platform for HR professionals, industry representatives, and compliance officers across the region.

📘 Topics Covered:

The program delved into the following three pivotal legislations:

1. The Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
   This Act is a cornerstone of social security for employees in India. It mandates the contribution of both employer and employee toward a provident fund, pension fund, and deposit-linked insurance, ensuring financial stability for employees post-retirement.
2. The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESIC)
   Designed to provide medical and cash benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity, disability, and employment injury, this Act is a critical pillar of India’s social welfare framework.
3. The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 (now known as the Employees’ Compensation Act)
   This legislation ensures compensation to employees in case of injury or death arising out of and during the course of employment. It plays a vital role in safeguarding worker interests and promoting safer working environments.

🎤 Expert Speakers:

The session was led by renowned experts in the field:

• Mr. Malhar Mehta
• Mr. Nehal Choksi

Both speakers brought deep expertise and practical insights into the discussion. Their explanations covered legal provisions, real-world implications, compliance obligations for employers, and common challenges faced in implementation.

Their engaging delivery and thorough command over the subject matter helped attendees gain a holistic understanding of each Act. From historical context to modern-day compliance practices, every aspect was covered with clarity.

 Key Takeaways:

• Importance of timely PF and ESIC registration and contribution
• Understanding eligibility, coverage, and benefits under each Act
• Employer obligations and penalties for non-compliance
• Case studies and real-time Q&A for practical insights

👥 Participants:

The session witnessed active participation from HR managers, payroll officers, industry consultants, and company administrators from across South Gujarat. The interactive Q&A segment enabled attendees to get personalized guidance on specific scenarios and compliance concerns.

Today we visited Eco Textile Park, Palsana in collaboration with SGPC...

*On-site safety training

*Discussion with loom owners about the importance of safety, possible safety precautions

*Pasting safety posters at work place

*Safety oath and signature campaign at the unit

Many women employees are working as machine operators, cleaning work, beam passer, production check in those units

સુરત સ્થિત કોમન સર્વિસ સેન્ટર સાથે ગ્રામીણ ઉધ્યોજકો માટે ઇંડકશન ટ્રેનીંગ નું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. બેન્કનીવિવિધ પ્રોડક્ટસ ની સાથે ટૂ વ્હીલર પણ વેચી શકાયઅને તેના થકી અર્થોપાર્જન ની સુંદર તક વિષે સંપૂર્ણ માહિતી આપવામાં આવી હતી. ગાંધીનગર થી CSC ગુજરાત રાજ્ય નાં આસિ. મેનેજર શ્રી વિકાસ પરમાર ખાસ ઉપસ્થિત રહ્યા હતા. પિરામલ ફાયનાન્સ ની હાઉસિંગ લોન ની માર્કેટિંગ ટીમે અને બજાજ 2 વ્હીલર ની ટીમે તેમની પ્રોડક્ટ ની ખાસિયત સમજાવી હતી. આમ નવા ઉધયોજકો નો ઉત્સાહ વધાર્યો હતો. CSC - સુરત જિલ્લા ના મેનેજર શ્રી તુષાર બેલડિયા એ પ્રોગ્રામ નું સંચાલન કર્યું હતું. SGPC નાં પ્રમુખશ્રી નિરવ રાણાએ કાર્યક્રમ ની શરૂઆત કરાવતા સર્વે મહાનુભાવોને અને શ્રોતાઓ ને આવકાર્ય હતા અને સીએસસી ની કામગીરી સમજાવી હતી. પ્રમુખ શ્રીનિરવ રાણા અને શ્રી ગોપાલ મંડલિયાએ શ્રી વિકાસ પરમાર નું સ્મરણિકા આપી સન્માન કર્યું હતું. કાર્યક્રમ ને અંતે શ્રેયસ ટિકિવાળા એ સર્વે હજાર શ્રોતાઓ અને મહાનુભાવો નો આભાર માની કાર્યક્રમ ની પૂર્ણાહુતિ કરી હતી.

સાઉથ ગુજરાત પ્રોડકટીવિટી કાઉન્સિલ - SGPC દ્વારા પ્રોડકટીવિટી વીકની ઉજવણીના ભાગરૂપે તા.૧૬/૨/૨૦૨૫ એ Start-up and IPR સેમિનારનું આયોજન સમૃદ્ધિ ખાતે કર્યું હતુ॰

સાઉથ ગુજરાત પ્રોડકટીવિટી કાઉન્સિલ - SGPC દ્વારા ૧૬મી ફેબ્રઆરી ૨૦૨૫ નાં સવારે ૧૦:૦૦ કલાકે સમૃદ્ધી નાનપુરા ખાતે "Start-up and IPR સેમિનારનું આયોજન કર્યુ હતું. સમારંભની શરૂઆત સંસ્થાનાં પૂર્વ પ્રમુખ શ્રી પ્રફુલ શાહએ સર્વે મહેમાનો અને સભ્યોને આવકાર્યા હતા, સેમિનારના મુખ્ય અતિથિ શ્રી નૈષધ દેસાઇ, પ્રમુખશ્રી ગુજરાત ઇંટુક ને સંસ્થાના પૂર્વ પ્રમુખ શ્રી પ્રફુલ શાહએ સ્મરણિકા અને પુષ્પગુછ્ચ આપી આવકાર્ય હતા, સંસ્થાના કારોબારી સમિતિના સભ્ય શ્રી ઇંદ્રવદન શેત્રંજીવાળા એ સ્મરણિકા અને પુષ્પગુછ્ચ વડે મુખ્ય વક્તા CA મેહુલ શાહ ને આવકાર્યાં હતા, સંસ્થાના કારોબારી સમિતિના સભ્ય શ્રી કિશોર મંડલિયાએ સ્મરણિકા અને પુષ્પગુછ્ચ વડે મુખ્ય વક્તા Adv. શ્રી રોહન દેસાઇ ને આવકાર્યાં હતા. મુખ્ય અતિથિ શ્રી નૈષધ દેસાઇએ પ્રસંગોચિત ઉદબોધન કર્યું હતું, મુખ્ય વક્તા CA મેહુલ શાહ એ 

On 28th February, 2025 South Gujarat Productivity Council & Aajeevika Bureau, jointly organized a Safety Dialogue in Surat to present findings from a safety audit exercise that we had undertaken in collaboration with 50 power loom units. The Dialogue received excellent participation from industry leaders in Surat, including Mr. Ashok Jirawala, President of FOGWA (Federation of Gujarat Weavers Welfare Association), Mr. Nilay Pandya, Asst. Director of the Powerloom Service Center and Mr. L. K. Dungrani, Rt. Deputy Director of Dist. Industrial Safety & Health also graced the occasion.

Niveditha G.D. from Work Fair and Free Foundation and Sharad Zagade from Aajeevika Bureau, Surat presented findings on risks and hazards in the production process within the power loom units. Based on the major findings, concrete solutions to mitigate and address these risks were presented to the employers/ Unit Holders.

Power loom owners also shared experiences of collaborating with Aajeevika Bureau to set up ‘Model Worksites’, with safety features such as sensory lights, safe electrical wiring equipment’s etc. and enrollment of their workers in Workmen’s Compensation policy to provide greater social security to workers.

Ms. Divya Varma, Director, Work Fair and Free and Aajeevika Bureau spoke about their initiatives in enabling industry to adopt labour practices that ensure greater dignity, security and well- being of workers across labour- intensive sectors, specifically through their Social Compact initiative. Mr. Sanjay Patel, Programme Manager, Aajeevika Bureau highlighted the dire conditions of safety in the power looms, including serious injuries and deaths of workers. Urged the power loom owners and industrial bodies to take cognizance of this issue and take concrete steps to make power-looms safer and secure for workers.

On the occasion of 1st May - International Labour Day, SGPC felicitated various unions of Surat Municipal Corporation for their fair, just and excellent union activities for the welfare of workers and speedy resolution of workers' issues. The special guests were Mr. Raviraj Desai, Managing Director of Himalaya Group and Mrs. Bhanu Behen K. Kanthariya, In-charge Asst. Mun. Commissioner. were present. Along with this, the workers of Sanitation and Health Dept. who did a great job of improvement were felicitated.

SGPC દ્વારા  નીરોગી જીવનશૈલી - ઉત્પાદકતામાં આગેકદમ  પર સેમિનાર નું આયોજન

અતિથિવિશેષ - શ્રીમતી આમ્રપાલી દેસાઇ - મેરેજ & રિલેશનશીપ કાઉનસેલર

વક્તાઓ - શ્રીમતી ડોં. પારૂલ પટેલ - આયુર્વેદચાર્ય અને યોગા કન્સલ્ટન્ટ

શ્રીમતી અર્ચના દેસાઇ - ન્યુટ્રિશનિસ્ટ, ડાયેટિશિયન, એજયુકેશનિસ્ટ (SGPC લેડિઝ વિંગ નાં ચેર-પર્સન)

શ્રીમતી જીગ્ના પટેલ - મિલેટ પ્રચારક અને મિલેટ ની વાનગીઓના નિષ્ણાંત

અતિથીવિશેષ અને વક્તાઓનું પ્રમુખશ્રી નિરવ રાણા દ્વારા પુષ્પગુચ્છ અને સ્મરણિકા થી સ્વાગત કર્યા બાદ,

શ્રીમતી ડોં. પારૂલ પટેલે યોગ અને ધ્યાન દ્વારા મન અને શરીર ને કેળવવા પર સમજવ્યું હતું. યોગ ક્યારે, કેમ, તેની અસર પર વિશેષ છણાવટ કરી હતી.

શ્રીમતી અર્ચના દેસાઇએ યોગ્ય આહાર, તેની માત્રા, યોગ્ય આહાર ની શરીર પર થતી અસર પર વિશેષ છણાવટ કરી હતી.

કૃષિ વિજ્ઞાન કેન્દ્ર નાં ડોં. ભરત દાવડા (જુવાર સંશોધન ના નિષ્ણાંત) એ વિવિધ મિલેટ, તેમાં ક્યા ક્યાં પોષક તત્વો મળે ચ્હે તે વિષે સુંદર સમજણ આપી હતી.

શ્રીમતી જીગ્ના પટેલે કઈ કઈ મિલેટ (શ્રી અન્ન) નો ભોજન માં કેવી રીતે સમાવેશ કરવો તે સમજવ્યું હતું. મિલેટ આંબલી બનાવવાની રીત બતાવી હતી.

ત્યારબાદ કાર્યક્રમના અતિથિવિશેષ શ્રીમતી આમ્રપાલી દેસાઇ એ મન અને શરીર નું બેલેન્સ અને તેનું મહત્વ સમજવ્યું હતું

સમગ્ર કાર્યક્રમનું સંચાલન સંસ્થાના માનદ ખજાનચી શ્રી દિપેશ શાકવાલા એ સુંદર રીતે કર્યું હતું.

ત્યારબાદ સંસ્થાનાં સંચાલક મંડળ નાસદસ્ય શ્રી એડ. નરેશ શાહે પોતાની આગવી શૈલી માં સર્વે અતિથિઓ અને શ્રોતાઓ નો આભાર મણિ કાર્યક્રમનીપૂર્ણાહુતિ કરી હતી.

સર્વે શ્રોતાઓ અને અતિથિઓ એ ગરમાગરમ મિલેટ ની સ્વાદિસ્ટ વાનગી નો રસાસ્વાદ માણી છૂટા પડ્યા હતા.

South Gujarat Productivity Council organized a seminar on Healthy Lifestyle - Advancement in Productivity in today's fast-paced, competitive era where there is constant stress on the brain and the style of food is constantly changing, due to which the impact on the work style is being discussed. 

SGPC Ladies Wing Chairperson Nutritionist, Dietician and Educationist Archana Desai spoke in her unique style about what a diet should be like, what is a proper diet? Its effects. Then Jigna Patel, who is also a millet promoter and an expert in millet recipes, explained how millet should be consumed and the different types of millets.

South Gujarat Productivity Council organized a seminar at Conference Hall of Sachin Infra Environment Limited on Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Boilers in association with National Productivity Council.

Unido - Mr. Debajit Das, Project Coordinator of United Nation Industrial Development Organization at India and Experts on Environment and Energy Efficiency from National Productivity New Delhi. K. Asthana, Asi. Dye. Anand Verma, Day. Dye. Prashant Shrivastava, Professor of NIMS Jignesh Dave, and NPC - Gandhinagar's Diy. Rahul Kirkir came to give an insight on how fuel savings and efficiency can be increased in using boilers. What assistance is provided by government of India to increase the energy capacity of boilers and its efficiency, what can be help from banks and how can the energy use for good and maximum input is given Special spraying was done on the output could be obtained. Assistance and related loan information were given from the Indian Government to modify the boilers or to take new boilers for the upgrade of boilers. The National Productivity Council will play a main part in taking loan. Six clusters of different sectors have been fixed in India, including Surat and Ankleshwar are two main clusters, and work is going on today and those who have adopted these changes are getting very good results. Then the question answer was round and received very beautiful response. At the beginning of the program, on behalf of South Gujarat Productivity Council, President of the organization Nirav Rana, Treasurer Dipesh Shakwala, Former President Arvind Kapadiya and Mayank Dalal welcomed the dignitaries one after another. South Gujarat Productivity Council thanks National Productivity Council officers and other guests for giving beautiful information. Special thanks to Mr. Rahul Kirkir, Director of National Productivity Council at Gandhinagar and also thank everyone from Delhi and Hyderabad. Sachin Infra Enviroment Limited. We thank President Binay Agarwal, Mitul Mehta, Kishore Patel and office bearers for their cooperation.

A seminar on Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Boilers was organized by South Gujarat Productivity Council in collaboration with National Productivity Council at the Conference Hall of Sachin Infra Environment Limited.

Shri Debajit Das, Project Coordinator, India, UNIDO - United Nation Industrial Development Organization and Shri A.K. Asthana, Asst. Dy. Anand Verma, De. Dy. Prashant Srivastava, Environment and Energy Efficiency Experts from National Productivity New Delhi, Professor Jignesh Dave, NIMS, and Dy. Rahul Kirkire, NPC - Gandhinagar, came to explain how fuel saving and efficiency can be increased in the use of boilers. In collaboration with the United Nations, special attention was paid to the assistance provided by the Government of India to increase the energy capacity and efficiency of boilers, what assistance can be provided by banks and through this, energy can be used in the best way and how to get the best output from the additional input given. Information was given on the assistance provided by the Government of India for upgrading boilers to make changes in them or to buy new boilers and related loans. The National Productivity Council will play a major role in getting loans. Six clusters of different sectors have been identified in India, of which Surat and Ankleshwar are the two main clusters, and work is underway on them today and it has also been found that those who have adopted these changes are getting very good results. After this, a question and answer round was held and a very good response was received. At the beginning of the program, on behalf of the South Gujarat Productivity Council, President Nirav Rana,Ttreasurer Dipesh Shakwala, former Presidents Arvind Kapadia and Mayank Dalal welcomed the dignitaries one after the other by giving them Mementos. South Gujarat Productivity Council thanks the officers of the National Productivity Council and other guests for providing knowledgable information. Special thanks to Mr. Rahul Kirkir, Director of the National Productivity Council - Gandhinagar. We also thank everyone who came from Delhi and Hyderabad. We express our gratitude to Binay Agarwal, Mitul Mehta, Kishore Patel, President of Sachin Infra Environment Ltd. and the office bearers for their cooperation.