Mumbai: In a significant step towards combating hunger in India’s urban centres, Honourable Minister Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated Malabar Group’s latest food distribution initiative at Shatabdi Hospital, Kandivali. This new effort will provide 500 nutritious meals daily to patient families at the hospital, ensuring that those grappling with medical challenges do not go hungry.
This initiative adds to Malabar Group’s existing efforts in Maharashtra, where the Malabar Charitable Trust is already distributing 6,300 food packets daily in various parts of the state. With the inclusion of the 500 daily meals at Shatabdi Hospital, the Trust’s food distribution in Maharashtra now reaches 6,800 meals daily, supporting vulnerable communities across the region.
This is part of Malabar Group’s broader ‘Hunger-Free World’ programme, a comprehensive CSR effort aimed at addressing hunger and malnutrition across the country and beyond. With this addition, the Trust is now distributing over 60,000 food packets daily with 50,000 meals served across 16 Indian states and 10,000 meals daily in Zambia, focusing on schoolchildren and underserved communities in the African nation.
Malabar Group, the world’s sixth-largest jewellery retailer, has embedded social responsibility at the heart of its operations. The ‘Hunger-Free World’ programme not only provides daily meals to vulnerable populations but also integrates a robust educational component. Through 247 micro learning centres (MLCs), the initiative reaches over 11,000 underprivileged children in India, offering them basic education to facilitate their return to formal schooling. These MLCs not only nourish young minds with knowledge but also provide essential daily nutrition, ensuring that children from streets and slums have a better chance at a brighter future.
At the event, MP Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Group emphasised the significance of the programme, “Today marks a key milestone in our ongoing mission. By extending our Hunger-Free World initiative to Shatabdi Hospital, we are not only providing 500 meals daily to families in need but also underscoring our commitment to improving lives through food security. With 60,000 meals now being served daily in India and Zambia, we are proud to play a part in the global fight against hunger. Our micro learning centres further enhance this mission by addressing another critical challenge education for underprivileged children.”
The ‘Hunger-Free World’ initiative is executed in collaboration with the NGO Thanal – Daya Rehabilitation Trust, ensuring that meals reach the most vulnerable. It also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger, positioning Malabar Group as a key player in the global effort to eliminate hunger. Beyond food distribution, Malabar Group’s CSR efforts include the ‘Grandma Home’ project for orphaned elderly women, medical care funding, educational support for female students, and housing assistance for the underprivileged. The Group contributes 5 per cent of its profits from all verticals, including Malabar Gold & Diamonds, towards these social welfare projects, with Rs 263 Crore already invested in such initiatives.