DiamondBuzz
Malabar Group Announces Scholarships for Over 3,900 Girl Students, Reinforces its Vision for Women Empowerment
Malabar Group, a leading Indian business conglomerate and the parent company of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, announced its Educational Scholarships for girl students in Telangana for the 2024–2025 academic year.
The announcement was made during an event at The Telangana State IAS Officers Institute in Somajiguda, Hyderabad. This announcement marks a significant milestone in the Group’s flagship CSR initiative, the Malabar Scholarship Programme, which underscores its commitment to supporting girls’ education. The event was inaugurated by Smt. D Anasuya Seethakka Garu, Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (including Rural Water Supply), Women & Child Welfare, Government of Telangana. The Group’s top leadership, including, Mr Asher O, MD – India Operations – Malabar Group, Mr. Siraj PK, Retail Head – Rest of India – Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Mr. Mohammed Shareej K, Zonal Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Mr. Shanib K, Zonal Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds were also present at the event along with other management team members of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, customers, well-wishers and students. This year, the scholarship program in India has earmarked a budget of ₹16 crore to support the education of over 21,000 girl students. In Telangana, a total of ₹3.14 crore has been allocated to assist the education of more than 3,900 girl students across 116 colleges in the state.
Since its inception, Malabar Group has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusive growth through its social welfare activities. In 1999, the Malabar Charitable Trust (MCT) was created to structure and expand these efforts. The group allocates 5% of its profits to CSR initiatives, which span education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and poverty alleviation, focusing on empowering marginalized communities.
The Malabar National Scholarship Programme, launched in 2007, is a flagship initiative under its CSR framework. To date, over ₹60 crore has been contributed to support the programme, providing financial aid to more than 95,000 girl students across India & over ₹13.74 crore has been contributed to the support of more than 22,400 girl students in Telangana State. By focusing on girls’ education, Malabar Group aims to uplift not just individuals but entire communities, ensuring future generations are equipped with the tools for social and economic progress.
In addition to the scholarship programme, the Malabar Group’s Hunger-Free World Project provides nutritious meals to the underprivileged across the country. Supported by a strong network of volunteers and partnerships with local NGOs, the initiative is committed to eradicating hunger and ensuring food security for all. Currently, over 60,000 food packets are distributed daily in 81 cities across 17 states in India. Additionally, 10,000 food packets are provided every day to school students in Zambia. Malabar Group aims to scale the project to serve 100,000 people daily at 200 centres. The Hunger-Free World Project is being implemented in collaboration with Thanal, a voluntary organisation, which is active in social service.
The Malabar Group has also launched the Grandma Home project, which provides free, fully equipped accommodation for destitute women, offering them protection and care. Currently, homes are operational in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, with plans to expand to major cities in Kerala, as well as Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai.
We have also established 581 micro-learning centers across 12 states, dedicated to educating dropout students. To date, we have supported over 25,800 students.
The Group’s CSR initiatives aimed at uplifting marginalized communities include medical aid for the underprivileged, support for housing construction, and financial assistance for the marriages of women in need. To date, the Malabar Group has invested over ₹282.29 crore in various social responsibility projects, reflecting its commitment to sustainable development.
Malabar Group’s continued focus on impactful initiatives such as education and hunger relief exemplifies the company’s belief that sustainable growth is only possible when communities are empowered and supported in every way possible. This dedication will remain at the heart of all future endeavours as the Group continues to expand both its business and social responsibilities.
Speaking about the initiative, MP Ahammed, Chairman, of Malabar Group, said, “Education is the most powerful tool to change the world. Our scholarship programme is a direct reflection of Malabar Group’s deep-rooted belief that education unlocks opportunities and transforms lives. We are committed to removing barriers for young girls so they can fulfil their educational aspirations and contribute meaningfully to society.”
DiamondBuzz
De Beers Group Sets Out Portfolio and Organisational Actions to Support Long-Term Value Creation
Company outlines strategic cost optimisation, portfolio streamlining and operational changes to strengthen resilience while positioning for long-term growth in the natural diamond industry.
De Beers Group is advancing delivery of its business streamlining by setting out a number of planned portfolio and organisational changes to ensure an efficient cost base that strengthens resilience in the near-term while enhancing future competitiveness and retaining optionality as industry conditions improve.
Since 2024, De Beers has been streamlining its business in line with its Origins strategy to reduce costs, divest non-core assets and prioritise investment in activities that create the most value. Significant progress has been made, with more than $100 million of annual overhead costs removed from the business, the sale or closure of a number of non-core assets and significant capital and cost reconfigurations to asset expansion projects.
Simultaneously, De Beers has reinvested in natural diamond category marketing to support the industry’s efforts to grow natural diamond demand, launching new large-scale campaigns and collaborating with key stakeholders across the value chain to foster industry-wide investment. Global consumer demand for natural diamond jewellery returned to growth in 2025, while natural diamond sales increased across US independent jewellers in 2025 and into Q1 2026, led by higher value diamonds and those promoted by De Beers’ Desert Diamonds marketing campaign.
On the supply side, global rough diamond production is now decreasing, with several producers closing mines during 2026. Whilst the increasing rarity of diamonds and the emerging signs of improvement in consumer demand are likely to support longer-term value creation, rough diamond trading conditions are expected to remain challenging in the near-term due to cyclical and industry-specific factors.
Consistent with recent actions to improve business resilience, De Beers intends to pause production at the Venetia mine in South Africa for two years to reduce costs while also rephasing capital expenditure on its underground project. This will involve critical infrastructure investment to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the mine, with the intention to support future production growth as business and industry conditions improve.
De Beers is engaging with stakeholders in accordance with relevant requirements and the company’s values as it moves through this process, and will both support impacted employees and continue to invest in its community and Social and Labour Plan commitments.
This proposed action at Venetia Mine follows the decision earlier this year to pause the Tuzo Phase 3 expansion project at the Gahcho Kué Mine in Canada.
In parallel, De Beers plans to reconfigure its global operating model to refocus and prioritise resources on the core operational businesses and reduce its central corporate cost base.
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said:
“In line with our commitment to focus and streamline our business, we are making a number of changes to De Beers to ensure greater business resilience in the near-term, while supporting long-term value creation. We recognise the protracted challenging conditions as the diamond industry evolves, though we are encouraged by signs of consumer demand growth in the US and beyond, particularly in higher quality diamonds.
Global rough diamond supply is falling, bringing more support to the market. The changes we are making to our business are focused on underpinning our efficiency now and into the future, favourably positioning De Beers in its leadership role.”
De Beers Group will maintain current production levels through its other operations, and previous production guidance remains unchanged.
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