THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MARCH 26, 2026

Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the world’s fifth-largest retail jewellery group and a responsible jewellery brand, today announced a ₹200 crore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment for the financial year 2026–27 at an event held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.

At the event, the Union Minister inaugurated the distribution of educational scholarships for 33,000 girl students across India. The gathering was attended by Malabar Group Chairman M.P. Ahammad, Managing Director – India Operations O. Asher, Executive Directors Nishad A.K. and Abdulla Ibrahim, Kerala House Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar, Pratham Education Foundation CEO Rukmini Banerji, and Thanal Chairman Dr. Idris, among others.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the initiatives of the Malabar Charitable Trust align closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering India’s daughters through programmes such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.

He added that “Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ decision to allocate INR 200 crore towards CSR will further strengthen the nation’s progress,” emphasizing that India’s growth is rooted in the empowerment of its people – especially women and girls – and appreciating the company’s efforts in driving meaningful change through education.

“He also encouraged students and young citizens to dream big, aspire beyond limitations, and seize the vast opportunities India offers, urging them to contribute actively to the nation’s growth story”.

Malabar Group Chairman M.P. Ahammad highlighted, “Human resource development is the backbone of national growth.” He noted that nurturing talent through quality education is essential, and that the scholarship programme enables students to achieve academic success and contribute to the country’s development. He added that the group remains committed to creating sustainable, long-term societal impact through significant CSR investments.

During 2026–27, CSR projects worth ₹200 crore will be implemented across more than 3,000 locations in 19 states, covering 15 major initiatives expected to benefit over two lakh people.

Education remains a major focus, with ₹114 crore allocated to initiatives such as micro-learning centres for street children and national scholarship programmes for girls. ₹30 crore has been earmarked for food distribution under the Hunger Free World project, while ₹14.2 crore will support healthcare initiatives. Housing projects, including the ‘Grandma Home’ initiative for destitute mothers, will receive ₹25 crore. Additionally, ₹6.8 crore will be allocated for humanitarian activities and ₹10 crore for environmental protection.

As part of Malabar Group’s 33rd anniversary, scholarships will be awarded this year to 33,000 girl students from 284 districts across 18 states. Since inception, the programme has benefited over 1,15,000 girls. All CSR initiatives are implemented through the Malabar Charitable Trust.

For the rehabilitation of street children, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has established 1,543 micro-learning centres across 17 states in partnership with Pratham Education Foundation, one of India’s largest NGOs. The number of centres will be increased to 2,500 this year, with student enrolment expected to rise from more than 64,000 to one lakh.

Under the Hunger Free World project, nutritious meals are provided daily to 1,15,000 people across India, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Other CSR initiatives include the ‘Grandma Home’ project, which offers free accommodation and care for destitute women, and Malabar–Thanal pharmacies that provide medicines at subsidized rates to the underprivileged.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ operations are guided by ESG principles. Since inception, the company has allocated 5% of its net trading profit towards CSR activities, focusing on women’s empowerment, healthcare, education, and environmental protection, in collaboration with organisations such as Pratham and Thanal.

These initiatives have already positively impacted the lives of more than 1.8 million people across India.