Shri Hari Krishna Export, leading diamond firm of Surat, chairman Savji Dholakiya gave away 600 cars to diamond polishers of the company as incentive ahead of Diwali as bonus. (Express photo)

A Surat-based diamond merchant on Thursday gifted 600 cars to his employees at a ceremony in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined via video conference.

Savji Dholakia, who owns Hari Krishna Exports, gave away the keys to 600 of his high-performing employees at the ‘Skill India Incentive Ceremony’ in Surat.

The employees, all of them diamond polishers, received Maruti Suzuki Alto and Maruti Suzuki Celerio cars. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on behalf of the firm, handed over car keys to two women employees who travelled to New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on behalf of the firm, handed over car keys to two women employees who travelled to New Delhi. (Express photo)

“This year we have shortlisted 1,600 diamond polishers working in our company who performed well adding to the growth of the company. We wanted to give them incentives. Thus, whoever was interested in car will receive cars and the rest will be given Fixed deposits and flats. This is an effort to motivate them to perform even better in the future,” Dholakia told The Indian Express on Wednesday.

The company has been giving such gifts to employees for the last four years, Dholakia said. So far, around 4000 of the 5500 employees have received such gifts as Diwali bonuses.

In September, Dholakia presented a Mercedes-Benz GLS worth Rs 1 crore to each of his three senior employees after they completed 25 years at the firm.

Nilesh Jada (40), Mukesh Chandpara (38) and Mahesh Chandpara (43) had completed 25 years at the company after joining as diamond cutters in their teens. They are presently in senior-level position and head critical departments which oversee cleaving and manufacturing.