V.P. Nandakumar Honoured with Exemplary Leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility Award

THRISSUR:
V.P. Nandakumar, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Manappuram Finance Ltd, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 EdelGive Hurun India – Exemplary Leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the India Philanthropy Summit and Awards 2025 in Mumbai on Thursday evening.

The award was presented to Nandakumar by Naghma Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of the EdelGive Foundation, and Anas Rahman Junaid, Founder of Hurun India. The awards ceremony recognised and celebrated leaders of organisations across the country whose philanthropic efforts have positively impacted the lives of millions.

“It is a profound honour to receive this prestigious award. I am truly humbled by this recognition of Manappuram Foundation’s philanthropic efforts. We have always believed that making a difference in even one person’s life is a success in itself. Thank you for your unwavering trust and support,” said Nandakumar upon receiving the award.

Other distinguished recipients at the ceremony included Shallu Jindal of the Jindal Foundation and Ms Zarina Screwvala of the Swades Foundation.

Pioneering Corporate Social Responsibility
Manappuram Finance Ltd, through its CSR arm, the Manappuram Foundation, has been conducting groundbreaking philanthropic work. Long before CSR became a statutory obligation in India, Manappuram Finance Ltd was already making notable contributions to society. To streamline and expand these efforts, the Manappuram Foundation was established in 2009 as a charitable trust under the dynamic leadership of Nandakumar, who also serves as its Chief Patron and Managing Trustee. The Foundation operates under a clear and compassionate vision: “To build healthy, educated, and happy communities.”

Key Initiatives and Impact
Since its establishment, the Manappuram Foundation has undertaken an extensive range of community welfare programmes, with particular emphasis on health and education for economically and socially disadvantaged communities. One of the Foundation’s pioneering initiatives was the Janaraksha Manappuram Free Health Insurance Scheme, launched in 2010. This flagship project provided complimentary health insurance to approximately 20,000 Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the coastal regions of Thrissur. Over its seven-year duration, the scheme reimbursed nearly ₹11 crores in medical expenses, covering a comprehensive range of treatments with no age restrictions. Notably, this innovative model predated the Government of India’s national health insurance programme, Ayushman Bharat, which was launched in 2018.