Rajkot: Even as traders, businessmen and establishments across Saurashtra joined the nationwide bandh call on Saturday to mourn the killing of 44 jawans in Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir, donations poured in for their families from all corners.The Morbi Ceramic Association said that it has collected Rs 1.5 crore, while the Orpat Group announced Rs 44 lakh — Rs 1 lakh per martyrs’ family— on Saturday. Besides this, 3,000-odd employees of the Orpat Group will donate one day’s salary, which roughly translates to about Rs 15lakh.Orpat Group’s chairman Pravin Bhalodia said, “As a company, we will contribute Rs 44 lakh and our 3,000 employees will contribute one day’s salary which is nearly Rs 15 lakh.” The employees of the group will also organize a rally in Morbi to pay homage to the martyrs.”The Morbi Ceramic Association has also urged its members to contribute towards the martyrs fund. The industry body began collection from Friday noon and till Saturday evening its 800 members had contributed Rs 1.2 crore.The other trade bodies of Morbi, which are associated with the clock manufacturing, packaging, paper mill, have also come forward and deposited Rs 35 lakh.Nilesh Jetparia, president of Morbi Ceramic Association said, “We want to tell the families of martyrs that the entire country is with them. We also plan to organize a function and invite some of the family members as guests and hand them over the final amount collected.”Meanwhile, markets in Rajkot observed bandhs in solidarity with the martyrs. The Rajkot Market Yard announced to contribute one day’s profit to the martyrs welfare fund.President of Rajkot Market Yard Atul Kamani said, “We decided to remain open as closing the market will affect the income of daily wagers. Nearly, 500 traders and some labourers contributed to this fund. Employees of the market yard also donated their two days salary. In total, we have collected nearly Rs 13 lakh.”The jewellers in Rajkot, Junagadh, Keshod, Jamnagar and other cities of Saurashtra region observed bandh on Saturday. In various parts of Saurashtra, people organized rallies and chanted anti-Pakistan slogans.

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