Kolkata: Malabar Group, one of the world’s leading jewellery retailers, celebrated Children’s Day across its 1,531 Micro Learning Centres (MLCs) in India. The celebrations brought joy to nearly 60,000 children supported by the centres and were led by senior Malabar Group representatives along with local community dignitaries.
The day began with the distribution of sweets, setting a warm and festive tone for a programme dedicated to learning, inclusion, and child welfare.
Malabar’s MLCs provide a vital support system for underprivileged children, especially those who were previously forced into labour or compelled to drop out of school due to socioeconomic hardships. Each centre offers one year of age-appropriate primary education, helping children reintegrate into formal schooling.
Parents, local leaders, police officials, health department representatives, and Malabar Group teams participated in the festivities. Children engaged enthusiastically in learning activities and interactive sessions aimed at boosting participation, creativity, and confidence.
In addition to education, the MLCs offer daily nutrition support—including milk, fruits, and eggs—to help children concentrate and learn effectively. The centres are staffed by trained graduates from local communities, maintaining a teacher–student ratio of 1:40. To date, nearly 30,000 children have successfully transitioned back to mainstream education through the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Malabar Group Chairman M. P. Ahammed emphasised the importance of combining nourishment with education.
“A child learns better when they feel secure and cared for. Nutrition strengthens their ability to study, and education gives them direction. Together, they help shape a future where every child can stand on their own with dignity. Our Micro Learning Centres embody this belief and remain an integral part of our CSR mission,” he said.
The centres function under the Group’s Hunger Free World initiative, which distributes 1,05,000 food packets daily across India and also supports communities in Zambia and Ethiopia.
So far, Malabar Group has invested over ₹356 crore in social welfare programmes, positively impacting more than 17 lakh beneficiaries. Its CSR initiatives focus on women’s empowerment, healthcare support, educational scholarships for girls, and the Grandma Home project, which provides shelter and care for elderly women.
