Hunger Free World: Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ fight against urban hunger

Hunger is a deeply rooted global crisis that continues to haunt humanity despite centuries of agricultural advancement and economic development. According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, over 29.5 crore people across 53 countries and territories faced acute hunger in 2024—an increase of almost 14 million compared to 2023.

This situation is not caused by food scarcity but by food insecurity. According to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), conflict, economic crises, climate extremes, and forced displacement continue to drive food insecurity.Against this stark backdrop, the Hunger Free World initiative by Malabar Gold & Diamonds emerges as a powerful and practical response to the invisible hunger haunting India’s streets. Launched in 2022 as a grassroots intervention to address post-pandemic food insecurity, the project has since evolved into one of India’s largest and most systematically executed corporate efforts to fight hunger.

It targets the most neglected populations—those living in the open, in slums, and in unregistered settlements—who often fall through the cracks of government schemes and civil society outreach.Hunger is a deeply rooted global crisis that continues to haunt humanity despite centuries of agricultural advancement and economic development. According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, over 29.5 crore people across 53 countries and territories faced acute hunger in 2024—an increase of almost 14 million compared to 2023.

This situation is not caused by food scarcity but by food insecurity.

According to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), conflict, economic crises, climate extremes, and forced displacement continue to drive food insecurity.Against this stark backdrop, the Hunger Free World initiative by Malabar Gold & Diamonds emerges as a powerful and practical response to the invisible hunger haunting India’s streets. Launched in 2022 as a grassroots intervention to address post-pandemic food insecurity, the project has since evolved into one of India’s largest and most systematically executed corporate efforts to fight hunger.

It targets the most neglected populations—those living in the open, in slums, and in unregistered settlements—who often fall through the cracks of government schemes and civil society outreach.The core mission of Hunger Free World is simple but profound: to ensure that no individual has to sleep hungry, especially in urban and peri-urban zones where vulnerability is compounded by invisibility. The project is designed to go beyond emergency relief; it aims to create sustained, structured, and scalable systems for food access in marginaliszed communities.To date, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has distributed 2.5 crore meals across the country and beyond. On average, 70,000 hot and nutritious meals are served daily to people living in conditions of extreme deprivation. Of these, 10,000 packets are distributed in three schools in Zambia. The meals are prepared with strict attention to hygiene and nutrition standards and are delivered through a network of partner NGOs and local volunteers.

Each location is monitored to ensure quality, consistency, and traceability—key features that set the program apart from sporadic charity drives.The project began during the pandemic, but its roots can be traced back tolie in Malabar’s long-standing commitment to social equity. As the crisis unfolded, field workers began noticing a disturbing pattern: individuals waiting for food who had gone unnoticed by both government and non-governmental support systems.

Entire families were living on sidewalks, under flyovers, or behind construction sites. These were people without documentation, without shelter, and without even the means to access ration cards or food subsidies.

It was in response to this reality that Hunger Free World was conceptualiszed—not just as a feeding program, but as a long-term intervention to map urban hunger, identify its patterns, and design responses tailored to local needs.

In just three years, the scale of the initiative has grown exponentially. In 2022, it operated in 16 cities and served 17.55 lakh meals. By 2023, it had expanded to 34 cities, distributing 72.35 lakh meals. In 2024, it reached 80 cities with 1.13 crore meals served. Currently, meals are being distributed in 167 centeres across 20 states, with new urban locations being added each month.The initiative is executed in collaboration with carefully vetted partner NGOs, local bodies, and volunteers who help identify true beneficiaries.

These include the homeless, migrant workers, elderly people without support, and children living without parental care. The distribution system is decentraliszed to ensure adaptability, and teams on the ground conduct periodic needs assessments to realign priorities and reduce duplication of services.

This approach has enabled the program to become both responsive and resilient in the face of evolving challenges.As part of the Hunger Free World programme, Malabar Gold and Diamonds has launched a new initiative called Micro Learning Centres (MLCs). The aim is to support impoverished children who are either not enrolled in school or have dropped out due to extreme poverty. We identify these children, bring them to the MLCs, and provide them with basic education, nutritious food, and essential medical care, —with the ultimate goal of reintegrating them into the formal schooling system.They We have opened 716 MLCs across different states, serving over 32,000 children. So far, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has successfully re-enrolled 9,000 students in schools through this initiative.Importantly, Hunger Free World does not approach hunger as an isolated issue. Instead, it treats food insecurity as part of a broader ecosystem of deprivation. In many locations, meal distribution is accompanied by basic medical checkups, counselling, and access to clean drinking water.

Beneficiaries are guided on how to access government services and documentation. This integrated approach ensures that hunger is not only alleviated in the immediate term but also addressed through systemic inclusion.A powerful aspect of the campaign is its emphasis on dignity. Meals are served with respect, and the language of charity is consciously avoided. In several cities, distribution points have become informal community spaces—where those living on the margins can gather without judgment, receive a warm meal, and experience human connection.The campaign also prioritiszes accountability and transparency. With ₹53 crore allocated to the project so far, every rupee is accounted for through rigorous auditing and monitoring processes. Daily reports, quality checks, and beneficiary tracking mechanisms are integral to its operation, allowing for constant refinement and credible impact measurement.The growing success of Hunger Free World has also encouraged expansion into international territories.

In 2024, the initiative launched its first international chapter in Zambia, aiming to serve 3.6 million school meals annually. This marks a significant step in taking the model global, demonstrating that corporate-led humanitarian efforts can adapt to diverse geographies and socio-economic contexts.At the heart of Hunger Free World is a deeply human philosophy. As M.P. Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, notes:

“We want to send a strong message to society: hunger can be eradicated if people work in unison.

We are doing our utmost in this regard. We believe that revolutionary changes are possible if corporations and institutions join hands to fight hunger. Of course, the distribution of food packets offers immediate relief, but it does not eradicate the root cause of the problem. What is truly important is achieving sustainable economic growth by increasing production and creating more jobs.

That is the long-term solution.

However, with 29.5 crore people facing hunger, we cannot wait for economic growth to reach everyone. Hence, we launched the Hunger Free World programme.”The story of Hunger Free World is one of empathy turned into action—of corporate resources channelled into meaningful transformation. It demonstrates that when business meets conscience, real change becomes possible. In a world where millions still go to bed hungry, Malabar’s initiative is not just feeding bodies—it is restoring hope.The article has been produced on behalf of Malabar Gold & Diamonds by the Times Internet's Spotlight team