Industry body Assocham has submitted a proposal to the Department of Telecommunications and the Commerce and Industry Ministry urging them to allow courier agencies to deliver precious items like gold, diamonds and gemstones.
Movement of gold and diamond materials through postal departments has constraints and often leads to pilferage and losses, the industry chamber said.
"If private couriers could be allowed to deliver precious metals, this would help in increasing sale and purchase of these items," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said.
The chamber, however said, the courier firms should be held responsible, in case of any loss and delayed deliveries of such items.
Further, there is a need for strict surveillance by the Bureau of Indian Standards on hallmarking centres aimed at maintaining purity of gold, it added.
It is estimated that there are over 4 lakh jewellery manufacturers and retailer units throughout India, Assocham said.
