The Surat Diamond Association (SDA) is auctioning off a number of paintings to raise money to provide medical care for workers in the city's diamond sector and scholarships for diamond workers' children, the Times of India reports.

In April, DTC sightholder Dharmanandan Diamonds held a three-day event during which over 200 artists from all over India were invited to create painting that express the theme "Diamonds, a Symbol of Love." The event yielded some 215 works of art and have an estimated value of over $327,000. The diamond company then gifted them to the SDA.

SDA President Dinesh Navadia told the Times that 100 of the paintings would be sold at auction on August 25, and over 1,000 diamantaires are expected to bid in the sale. Dharmanandan Diamonds Director Vipul Sutaria said that if this week's sale is a success, his company will make the art auction an annual event for the benefit of the diamond workers.