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Malabar Group Celebrates Children’s Day Across 1531 Micro Learning Centres in India


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Malabar Group, one of the world’s leading jewellery retailers, celebrated Children’s Day with heartfelt programmes across its 1531 Micro Learning Centres spread throughout India. More than sixty thousand underprivileged children supported by these centres took part in the celebrations, which began with the distribution of sweets and continued with activities designed to create a joyful, inclusive, and enriching environment for every child. Senior representatives from Malabar Group, community leaders, and dignitaries were present at various centres, making the day memorable for the young participants.

The Micro Learning Centres were established to support children who had been forced into labour or had to discontinue schooling due to difficult social or economic circumstances. Each centre provides a full year of age-appropriate primary education, enabling these children to transition back into the formal school system. Parents, community leaders, police officials, health department personnel, and Malabar Group teams joined the children in activities intended to build confidence, encourage participation, and nurture a love for learning.

Nutrition plays an equally vital role in the functioning of the centres. By offering milk, fruits, and eggs daily, the MLCs ensure that children receive essential nourishment to help them focus and learn better. The programme relies on trained graduates from local communities who serve as teachers, maintaining a ratio of one teacher for every forty children. This grassroots model has already borne remarkable results, with approximately thirty thousand children successfully returning to mainstream education through the initiative.

Speaking about the significance of the programme, Malabar Group Chairman M. P. Ahammed emphasized that the initiative addresses two of the most crucial needs of children—nutrition and education. He stated that a child learns best when they feel secure and cared for, and that nourishment strengthens their ability to study while education gives them direction. Together, these two elements empower a child to build a future rooted in confidence and dignity. He added that the Micro Learning Centres reflect the Group’s commitment to long-term community upliftment and form a key part of its broader CSR efforts.

The centres operate under Malabar Group’s Hunger Free World initiative, which distributes one lakh five thousand food packets every day across India while also supporting communities in Zambia and Ethiopia. Over the years, the Group has invested more than three hundred and fifty-six crore rupees in various social welfare programmes. These initiatives have touched the lives of more than seventeen lakh beneficiaries, spanning key areas such as women’s empowerment, healthcare access, educational scholarships for girls, and the Grandma Home initiative that provides shelter and care for elderly women.

This Children’s Day celebration across the Micro Learning Centres once again highlighted Malabar Group’s belief that every child deserves access to nourishment, education, and opportunities to grow with dignity. The celebrations not only brought joy to thousands of young faces but also reinforced the Group’s ongoing commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities through sustained social impact initiatives.

EduConnect

Goa Leads India’s Paperless Exam Revolution with LMExams Digital Pilot📍 Bambolim, Goa | 21st July 2025


A transformative milestone in India’s educational and climate-conscious journey was achieved as Dr. K.B. Hedgewar Higher Secondary School successfully launched the nation’s first fully paperless school exams. The initiative, in collaboration with LittleMore Innovation Labs, used LMExams’ DigiTaal devices — tamper-proof, offline digital tools purpose-built for secure, high-stakes assessments.

✅ India’s First Digital Exam Week

From 21st to 26th July 2025, 347 students of Grades 11 and 12 will write their final exams without a single sheet of paper. The exam system is entirely offline, secure, and digitized, representing a national first.

Key Benefits:

  • Zero paper used: 30,000 sheets saved
  • Carbon savings: Avoided emissions and water use
  • Offline Mode: No internet, no apps, no distractions
  • Digital security: Encrypted question papers, real-time answer syncing
  • Online evaluation: Faster & assistive correction

“It’s more than just a digital exam — it’s a rethinking of how we assess learning while preserving our planet.”
— Dr. Deepak Amonkar, Principal

🌱 Climate Impact

Each exam conducted digitally contributes to sustainability. This pilot alone conserves the equivalent of 3–4 fully grown trees, and if replicated statewide, could save over 5 million sheets annually. Through a unique partnership with C2Zero (Sydney), LMExams also locks away actual carbon rights, creating verifiable impact beyond classrooms.

🎓 A Visionary School

Dr. K.B. Hedgewar School, led by Shri Subhash Desai (Manager), Dr. Deepak Amonkar (Principal), and Shri Vilas Satarkar (Headmaster), has shown what visionary education can look like. Their efforts, aligned with NEP 2020 and sustainability goals, are setting an example for institutions nationwide.

🇮🇳 Goa as a National Model

Goa’s scale, progressive policies, and education ecosystem make it the ideal testbed. With this pilot validated, LMExams is ready to support educational boards, schools, and governments in adopting this climate-smart exam model at scale — without expensive infrastructure.

“This innovation reflects Goa’s commitment to thoughtful, scalable reforms that benefit both students and the planet.”
— Mr. Govind Parvatkar, Chairman, Goa Education Development Corporation

EduConnect

Kerala Schools Say Goodbye to Backbenchers with New Classroom Seating Model


Thiruvananthapuram, July 2025: Kerala’s classrooms are undergoing a silent revolution—and it’s all about where students sit. In a move aimed at promoting inclusive education and equal participation, schools across the state are eliminating the concept of “backbenchers” through a revamped classroom seating system.

Under this initiative, students are now seated in rotational arrangements, ensuring that no child is left at the back of the class permanently. The practice is being implemented in both government and aided schools as part of Kerala’s larger push toward child-centric and equitable education.

Teachers now use rotation charts to switch student seating weekly or monthly, giving every student an opportunity to sit in the front, middle, and back. This method not only improves visibility and attentiveness but also boosts the confidence of students who might otherwise feel isolated or overlooked.

According to officials from the Kerala State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), the idea stems from research suggesting that classroom positioning affects student engagement, teacher attention, and peer interaction. By eliminating fixed seating hierarchies, schools aim to build a more balanced and interactive learning atmosphere.

The initiative is already showing positive signs. “Shy students are opening up more, and even those who struggled academically seem more focused,” said a teacher from a government school in Ernakulam.

The ‘no backbenchers’ movement also aligns with the values promoted under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which stresses inclusivity, equity, and a stress-free learning environment.

Kerala’s progressive step is now being watched closely by education departments in other Indian states, as the focus shifts from mere infrastructure to learning equity inside the classroom.

For Kerala, this isn’t just a shift in where students sit—it’s a powerful message: every child deserves a front-row experience in education.